On May 6, The Night Ministry will join the Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (IAFCC), along with free clinics from across Illinois, to inform legislators about the importance of our services. We will also urge them to support our request for $15 million in state funding for fiscal year 2027.
This toolkit is designed specifically for you, The Night Ministry’s supporters, because your voice truly matters. As someone who believes in our mission, you recognize the impact of our work and the importance of making sure it reaches everyone in need. Legislators need to hear from people like you who are committed to building a more equitable healthcare system.
We have compiled effective ways to take action, including key messages and talking points for contacting your elected officials. Whether you choose to make a call or send an email, your advocacy will help secure this crucial funding increase.
Join us from home on May 6 and contact your legislators. Ask them to co-sponsor SB3519/HB5117, which would increase state funding for Illinois’ free and charitable clinics to $15 million.
Together, we will ensure that The Night Ministry and similar free clinics have the resources needed to address this moment. Thank you for standing with us and for amplifying your voice to expand access to care throughout Illinois.
The Role & Impact of Free & Charitable Clinics Across Illinois, free and charitable clinics are a critical lifeline for individuals and families who would otherwise go without essential healthcare. At The Night Ministry, we see every day how access to compassionate, free-of-charge health care can improve lives.
Since fiscal year 2023, Illinois has provided state funding to dozens of free and charitable clinics across our state. More clinics are accessing these funds, and the number of visits to funded clinics has soared. Across Illinois, medical visits to free and charitable clinics have increased by 149%, dental visits by 79%, and behavioral health visits by more than 300%.
We anticipate a continued demand for services at Illinois’ free clinics. Due to federal budget cuts, up to 500,000 Illinois residents may lose their Medicaid coverage. Despite this growing need, state funding for clinics like ours has remained unchanged, limiting our ability to meet the demand.
SB3519/HB5117 changes that and increases Illinois’ investment in free and charitable clinics from $9 million to $15 million—providing organizations like The Night Ministry with the resources needed to expand primary care, behavioral health services, and outreach to people experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
What You Need To Know
What is the Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics?
- The Illinois Association of Free & Charitable Clinics (IAFCC) enhances free and charitable clinics’ ability to care for uninsured and underinsured Illinoisans. The Night Ministry is a longtime IAFCC member. Our President & CEO, Carol J. Sharp, serves on its Board of Directors, and our Director of Strategic Partnerships, Tedd Peso, is a member of its Advocacy Committee.
What are SB3519 and HB5117?
- Senate Bill 3519 (SB3519) and House Bill 5117 (HB5117) allocate $15 million from the Illinois General Revenue Fund to the Illinois Department of Public Health and increase fiscal year 2027 funding to the Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. This funding supports the work of free and charitable clinics, such as The Night Ministry, across Illinois. Currently, free clinics receive $9 million in state funds.
Why is this funding important to The Night Ministry?
- The patients we serve at our Health Outreach Bus, Street Medicine Van, and at the CTA Blue and Red Lines face significant barriers to healthcare. Often, our patients are uninsured, have lost their coverage, or are unsure about their coverage. Unhoused Chicagoans often report that they struggle to access healthcare in the traditional medical system. The Night Ministry’s focus on human connection means that we build relationships with individuals we meet and leverage trust to provide deeper services, including basic healthcare and case management.
- State funding provides The Night Ministry with reliable support to stabilize expansion and meet the demand. Last year, our Outreach and Health Teams made 57,597 contacts with individuals. This represents a 36% increase in contacts since FY23, the first year that Illinois provided this state funding to clinics. Our medical team provided 3,665 medical visits to 1,659 patients and treated 1,006 conditions that would not have been otherwise treated.
- State funding helps The Night Ministry end homelessness. Because case management is part of our program, The Night Ministry added 551 clients to housing wait lists and helped 123 individuals obtain housing last year.
- State funding saves our clients and healthcare systems money. In FY25, The Night Ministry prevented 983 emergency room visits, which saved $2.7 million.
What to Do on Lobby Day – May 6
- Find your legislators’ contact information:
Go to www.ilga.gov. Under “Reports & Inquiry,” select “Find My Legislator.” Enter your address and click on your legislator’s photo to find their contact information.
- Contact your legislators and ask them to co-sponsor SB3519 (if they are a Senator) or HB5117 (if they are a Representative). Below is a sample script that you can use when you call or email your legislators: “Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a constituent who lives at [Address]. I’m calling to urge [Senator/Representative Name] to co-sponsor SB3519 [if you are calling a Senator] / HB5117 [if you are calling a Representative], which would increase state funding for free and charitable clinics across Illinois. Organizations like The Night Ministry rely on this funding to provide essential healthcare to people who might otherwise go without it—especially those experiencing homelessness or poverty. [Discuss your connection to The Night Ministry or why you support our mission and share some facts about our services from the above.] This funding increase will ensure more Illinois residents can access healthcare during these uncertain times. I strongly encourage [Senator/Representative Name] to support and co-sponsor SB3519/HB5117. Thank you for your time.”
- Report Back: Email Tedd Peso, The Night Ministry’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, at tedd@thenightministry.org. Let him know who you contacted and what they told you.
Note: Your legislator may already be a co-sponsor. You can check the most current list of co-sponsors here: SB3519 or HB5117. If you see your legislator’s name listed here, then you should thank them for co-sponsoring the bill and let them know why The Night Ministry’s work is important to you.
