he probably knew he could always stop by his mom's place, and she would give him a meal and a place to sleep. 

i've have know a few teens who were homeless by choice.  they could go home to the parents place, and have a hot meal, and a place to sleep.  but they did not want to live under the parents rules, so they chose to be homeless. 

...they would couch-surf ... go from one friends place to another.  a week here, a month there...eventually some  learned to be self sufficient, and get a job, and pay their own bills.