Autumn Joy, 24, is an artist, poet, and youth advocate—and one of many young people navigating homelessness who rely on The Crib, The Night Ministry’s emergency shelter for youth ages 18–24. Their journey has never been linear, but shaped by resilience, creativity, and a belief that light exists at the end of the tunnel.
Born in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, they moved to Naperville, Illinois, as a toddler. At 11, they entered residential care in Quincy, Illinois, remaining there through high school, graduating in 2019. The years that followed brought continual transitions through programs in Missouri and Texas, some supportive, others harmful. After returning to Chicago, Autumn Joy secured an apartment in 2023, but by 2025, health needs and financial strain pushed them back into homelessness.
Autumn Joy was seeking more than a bed. They wanted respect, especially as an LGBTQIA+ young person. They discovered The Night Ministry, through the StreetLight Chicago app, a mobile resource for young people ages 14 to 24 experiencing housing instability in Chicago.
The Night Ministry has been a place where they feel heard, supported, and where genuine community moments occur. Last December, they performed poetry at the Jingle Jam, a youth holiday celebration. Creativity remains central to their survival, helping them process trauma and uncover the beauty that often comes from struggle. “Everything is real. I don’t write about fake stuff,” they stated.
“Creativity remains central to their survival, helping them process trauma and uncover the beauty that often comes from struggle.”
A member of Youth 4 Truth, The Night Ministry’s youth advocacy committee, they are candid about their challenges, hoping it will help keep more youth off the streets. “It’s about making a difference.”
For Autumn Joy, “home” means safety, comfort, and rest. And their outlook is positive.
They are one of hundreds of young people who come to The Crib. Last year alone, The Night Ministry served as a housing resource for 367 youth—a 23 percent increase from the previous year.
