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Why Health Care?

Health and homelessness are closely linked.

Unhoused members of the community have higher rates of illness and are more likely to die at a younger age than the general population.

Acute health crises or chronic medical conditions are often precipating factors in the loss of housing. And the conditions of homelessness can bring about new health challenges or exacerbate existing ones.

Accessing health care is extremely challenging for people who are unhoused and homelessness severly impacts the management of and recovery from a health condition.

Our Health Outreach Bus


Our specially designed Health Outreach Bus features a fully equipped nurse’s office and brings basic medical care and a sense of community to individuals and families five days per week in underserved areas of Chicago. See the Bus schedule.

Our Services Include

  • Health care
  • Outreach
  • Housing and social service referrals
  • Case management
  • Hospitality

We Offer

  • Survival supplies
  • Food
  • Hygiene kits
  • Warm winter wear
  • Condoms to prevent the spread of STIs
  • Coffee

Street Medicine Program

Our Street Medicine Program brings free health care, survival supplies, and support directly to individuals who have the most difficulty accessing traditional services. Regularly visiting encampments, expressway viaducts, and street corners across the city, a Nurse Practitioner, Case Manager, and Street Medicine Outreach Professional first address immediate health needs, then link individuals to case management and medical homes. 

CTA Outreach

The Night Ministry connects with unhoused individuals who ride public transit for shelter by bringing our health care and outreach services twice weekly to select CTA train stations. Along with partner organizations, we help address immediate needs for food, health care, and other resources while connecting clients to housing and further services.

Bus Locations and Schedule

Sunday

  • Garfield Park
    (Legler Library/Pulaski & Wilcox)
    3:00 – 5:00 pm

  • New City
    (54th & Halsted)
    5:30 – 7:30 pm

Monday

  • Pilsen
    (18th & Blue Island)
    3:00 – 5:00 pm

  • South Shore
    (70th Place & Jeffery)
    5:30 – 7:30 pm

Tuesday

  • Encampments
    3:00 – 7:00 pm

Wednesday

  • Garfield Park
    (Legler Library/Pulaski & Wilcox)
    3:00 – 5:00 pm

  • New City
    (54th & Halsted)
    5:30 – 7:30 pm

Thursday

  • Pilsen
    (18th & Blue Island)
    3:00 – 5:00 pm

  • South Shore
    (70th Place & Jeffery)
    5:30 – 7:30 pm

Health Services Locations

1735 North Ashland Avenue, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60622 | 773-784-9000
The Night Ministry is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Our Federal Tax ID (EIN) is 36-3145764.