Help The Night Ministry give the gifts of hope and warmth this holiday season with a drawstring bag! Distribution begins the week of December 15! Drawstring backpacks should be approximately 14" x 16". Simple nylon backpacks are fine. Most clients prefer dark-colored backpacks. All items must be new. Please be respectful of our diverse client base,...

November 9, 2025 A Winter Storm Warning is in effect for Cook County from 9 PM tonight (11/9) through noon Monday (11/10). Lake effect snow may significantly impact Monday morning conditions. For organizations serving unsheltered individuals, please share these warming resources: 24/7 ACCESS: SPARC (Shelter Placement and Resource Center) - 2241 S H...

 At 6'4, Seth Hilton stands tall with a warm smile and a funny but important clarification, "No, I'm not related to the Hiltons," he laughs, referring to the family hotel empire. What Seth lacks in inherited wealth, he makes up for in determination, creativity, and an unexpected gift that emerged during one of the most challenging times the wo...

Bertha DePriest first learned about The Night Ministry more than two decades ago while on vacation in Argentina, in a conversation with a couple she met and is still friends with Gordon and Paula Addington. The name itself piqued her curiosity, and when she returned home, she encouraged her church to get involved. Soon, her congregation was pr...

Jan Rotter carefully arranges paintbrushes and colored pencils on the table in the lounge at West Town, The Night Ministry's interim housing facility for youth ages 14–21, preparing for another afternoon with the young people she's come to know and love. It's a ritual she's repeated countless times during her 20-year tenure as a volunteer.A former ...

 Our Youth 4 Truth members recently had the incredible opportunity to attend the "A Way Home America" conference, an experience that left us inspired and energized for the work ahead. A Way Home America continues to be a leading force in shaping policies that support unhoused individuals and amplifying the voices of those who need it most. Thi...

Israel stresses that for people living with addiction, recovery is more complicated than just getting clean. There's a crucial mental component that must be addressed—a psychological shift that needs to happen before real change can occur. "You have to get to the root of what went wrong, what led to the decisions that eventually resulted in addicti...

Twice a month at our Forest Park Blue Line outreach, Loyola optometrists volunteer their expertise to provide essential eye care to those experiencing homelessness and extreme poverty.  From vision screenings and glaucoma testing to distributing free reading glasses, these amazing professionals are helping our community members and making a si...

When The Night Ministry launched Youth 4 Truth (Y4T) in 2016, the goal was both transformative and straightforward: to create a space where young people in its housing programs could speak for themselves and shape the services they rely on. Nearly a decade later, the program is thriving, now under the leadership of Michelle Thomas, Client Developme...

The Night Ministry's Associate Board will host the 11th Annual Night Lights Gala on Thursday, October 30, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Marshall's Landing, 222 West Merchandise Mart Plaza. Guests will enjoy an evening of celebration, networking, and community while raising vital funds to support The Night Ministry's health outreach programs and se...

The potential deployment of the National Guard has heightened anxiety and fear across Chicago. For our unhoused neighbors, increased military presence can be particularly unsettling, exacerbating the already immense challenges they face daily. The feeling of insecurity and potential for further marginalization adds another layer of complexity to th...

Each day, whether on sidewalks, under viaducts, and in shelters, The Night Ministry's Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) are on the frontlines, providing health care and other vital services to some of Chicago's most vulnerable residents. In honor of Illinois Association for Free & Charitable Clinic Month, we celebrate them for their u...