How did Maniac Magee become homeless?

The answer to this question can be found in chapter 1 of the book. Readers are told that Jeffrey Lionel Magee was "not born in a dump." He was born to regular parents that lived in a regular house. Unfortunately, Maniac's parents were killed in a tragic trolley accident.

And just like that, Maniac was an orphan. He was three years old.

Fortunately, Maniac was taken in and adopted by his Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan. The problem is that Uncle Dan and Aunt Dot hate each other. They don't share anything, and they never talk. The relationship got progressively worse the entire time Maniac was there. Maniac dealt with that for eight years, and then he couldn't take it any longer. He ran out during a school concert and wound up in the town of Two Mills a year later. We are not told why it took Maniac so long to get to Two Mills, but after running away from his aunt and uncle, Maniac is a homeless child.