208 homeless youths completed surveys on the streets & in agencies in New York City & Toronto. Stuctural equation modelling was used to test a theoretical model developed from exploratory work, & regression analyses were used to examine the influence of home & street contextual variables. The centrality of the trapped experience in a model incorporating drug use & dependence, abusive family history, loneliness, low self-esteem, & suicidality was confirmed. Other findings included a marked reduction in reported suicidal behaviour following participants’ leaving home, with family violence, being thrown out of the home, neglect, poor physical health, & having suicidal friends showing strong relationships with suicidality. (78 refs.)