Author: Judith@thenightministry.org

On March 14, The Night Ministry participated in a powerful community forum hosted by the Chicago Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

The forum, “The Intersection Between Gender Based Violence, Trafficking, Missing Black Women and Girls and Advocacy 2026,” brought together parents, community members, activists, teachers, and youth at John Harvard Elementary School, located on Chicago’s South Side, to raise awareness on the urgent issues of gender-based violence and missing and exploited Black women and girls.

Allison McCann-Stevenson, Vice President of Programs and Services, was one of 10 panelists that included State Senator Mattie Hunter, Alderperson Jeanette Taylor, Cook County Clerk Monica Gordon, Amber Boyd – Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center, Victoria Davis Jones – Illinois Department of CFS/Human Trafficking Program Manager, and moderated by Rev. Dr. Alexis Brinkley

State Senator Mattie Hunter provided details regarding legislation that she is sponsoring to establish the Ebony Alert System, a system designed to help locate missing Black youth and young adults (ages 12–25) by issuing public alerts similar to AMBER alerts. Thus far, more than 200 letters from the community have been received in support of the Ebony Alert as well as the creation of an Office of Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls within the Illinois Attorney General’s Office.

Data shared during the panel was a reminder of why this is an important issue:
• The leading cause of youth trafficking vulnerability is leaving home due to family disputes
• Between 2024 and now, 88 youth reported their last address was outside of Illinois
• 61% had previously experienced homelessness

“Being part of this conversation was profoundly powerful and give voice to an unspoken issue,” stated Allison McCann-Stevenson, Vice President of Programs and Services at The Night Ministry. “These stories are not just statistics—they are our neighbors and our community members. At The Night Ministry, we witness every day how vulnerability is compounded by systemic inequities and the impact it has on communities of color. Coming together in spaces like this reminds me that change begins when we listen, when we believe, and when we act with compassion and purpose.”

Compassionate, consistent relationships that transform lives.

Safe, supportive shelter and living environments for young people who face multiple, complex challenges.

On March 13, Tedd Peso, Director of Strategic Partnerships at The Night Ministry, traveled to Washington, D.C., to represent Illinois as State Captain at the National Network for Youth’s National Summit on Youth Homelessness & Hill Day. Joined by fellow homelessness service providers, including Ignite, The Harbour, the Illinois Collaboration on Youth, the Alliance to End Homelessness in Suburban Cook County, and young leaders from the Chicago/Suburban Cook County Youth Advisory Board, Peso helped elevate the voices of young people facing housing instability across the state.

Throughout the summit, Peso drew on stories from The Night Ministry’s housing programs and case management services, which support youth navigating the challenges of homelessness with compassion, stability, and long-term guidance. He shared examples of how outreach workers and case managers walk alongside young people as they secure safe shelter, pursue education, and work toward brighter futures.

“Our youth are resilient, but resilience shouldn’t be a requirement for survival,” said Peso. “Every young person deserves a stable home, supportive relationships, and the chance to thrive. At The Night Ministry, we see what becomes possible when those basic needs are met, and it’s our responsibility to ensure policymakers see it too.”

The Illinois delegation met with staff from the offices of Senator Dick Durbin, Senator Tammy Duckworth, and Congressman Danny K. Davis to advocate for increased federal support for programs serving youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. By sharing firsthand experiences and statewide progress, they emphasized that investments in youth housing and wraparound services build stronger, healthier communities.

Compassionate, consistent relationships that transform lives.

Safe, supportive shelter and living environments for young people who face multiple, complex challenges.

On the frigid night of January 22, more than 30 volunteers and staff gathered at The Night Ministry’s headquarters in Bucktown to participate in the City of Chicago’s annual Point‑in‑Time (PIT) Count. Federally mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the PIT Count provides a snapshot of the number of individuals experiencing homelessness (i.e., living outside) on a single night. The PIT Count does not record individuals who are couch-surfing, living in abandoned buildings, or in other unstable situations

The data plays a critical role in shaping federal, state, and local funding decisions for housing and supportive services, making the accuracy of each count essential.

Historically conducted during the coldest week of the year, this year’s count lived up to that tradition. Freezing temperatures underscored the urgency of the work ahead as volunteers prepared to head into neighborhoods across Chicago. The Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS) led an in‑depth training at The Night Ministry’s offices, ensuring that every participant understood how to engage safely, respectfully, and productively with unhoused neighbors.

For many volunteers, the night was both eye‑opening and deeply meaningful. “It’s one thing to read statistics about homelessness,” shared one volunteer, “but being out there, meeting people where they are, reminds you that every number represents a real person with a real story.”

The Night Ministry has supported the PIT Count since its earliest years, reflecting its commitment to illuminating the realities of homelessness in Chicago. As David Wywialowski, Director of Outreach and Health, expressed, “Each person counted is a story that needs to be told. The data guides funding, but the stories guide our mission.”

The last year’s Point-in-Time (PIT) Count in Chicago for 2024 reported 18,836 individuals experiencing homelessness, representing a significant increase from the previous year and highlighting the ongoing homelessness crisis in the city. 

Compassionate, consistent relationships that transform lives.

Safe, supportive shelter and living environments for young people who face multiple, complex challenges.

Earlier this month, The Night Ministry joined fellow free and charitable clinic providers for a pivotal legislative breakfast hosted by Community Health and the Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics (IAFCC). The gathering brought together passionate advocates, dedicated legislators, and innovative healthcare providers united by a common goal: expanding access to critical health services to unhoused and uninsured neighbors.

Laura Starr, Executive Director of IAFCC, welcomed attendees and set the stage for what became a lively and productive discussion about the future of free clinic services across Illinois. The central focus was securing $15 million in state funding for 2026—a significant increase from the $9 million allocated in 2025. This funding request represents the difference between turning patients away and opening doors to care, which means more outreach, more prevention, and ultimately healthier communities across our state.

The case for increased funding is backed by compelling evidence. Last year alone, free and charitable clinics across Illinois achieved a cumulative savings of $70 million in healthcare services and emergency room diversions. The Night Ministry’s outreach and health program played an instrumental role in this success, demonstrating how mobile medicine and street outreach can meet people where they are and connect them to care before health crises occur.

The breakfast drew legislative leaders and staff from their offices, including Representatives Theresa Mah and Camille Lilly, as well as staff from the offices of Sen. Mattie Hunter, Sen. Omar Aquino, Sen. Robert Peters, Sen. Graciela Guzman, Rep. Will Guzzardi, Rep. Lindsey LaPointe, and Rep. Tracy Katz Muhl.   

The Night Ministry was proud to stand alongside fellow clinic providers Community Health, Old Irving Park Community Clinic, Mobile Care Chicago, and Chicago Women’s Health Center. Together, these organizations represent a powerful network of compassionate care, reaching across Chicago and beyond to serve those who might otherwise fall through the cracks of our healthcare system.

Attendees left the breakfast with clear next steps: supporting Senate Bill 3519 and House Bill 5117, which will secure vital funding for free and charitable clinics, and made time to tour Community Health, Mobile Care Chicago’s Asthma Van, and The Night Ministry’s Outreach and Health Van to see firsthand the impact of this work.

As we move forward into 2026, The Night Ministry remains committed to providing healthcare, housing, and human connection to members of our community who are left out and left behind. The path from $9 million to $15 million isn’t just about budget increases—it’s about expanding our collective capacity to serve, to heal, and to demonstrate that healthcare is a human right, not a privilege.

Compassionate, consistent relationships that transform lives.

Safe, supportive shelter and living environments for young people who face multiple, complex challenges.

Join The Night Ministry, along with other partner organizations, and hundreds of Chicagoans for the 2^nd Annual Winter Walk Chicago for a powerful morning of solidarity in the fight to end homelessness on Sunday, February 8.

The walk, which will take place at Humboldt Park at 9:15 a.m., brings together housed and unhoused neighbors, families, advocates, and change-makers—walking shoulder to shoulder to show our community’s compassion in action. As homelessness continues to rise in Chicago, your participation matters more than ever.

How You Can Help:

Walk with us – Register to walk or set up a fundraiser page and invite friends, family, and coworkers to join you – click here. All walk registrants will receive a limited edition 50^th Anniversary branded beanie.

Donate – Support a walker or give directly to The Night Ministry – click here

Bring your warmest layers, your biggest heart, and anyone who wants to make a difference. Together, we can build a future where everyone has a place to call home.

Register now by clicking here

Compassionate, consistent relationships that transform lives.

Safe, supportive shelter and living environments for young people who face multiple, complex challenges.