A Journey of Resilience and Renewal

When David moved from Arizona to Chicago in 2016, he had no idea the twists his journey would take. "I was born and raised in Arizona," he recalled. "I came to Chicago for a promotion on the railroad. I've always been a wanderer, curious about how things work and open to new places." But when the pandemic hit, the life he'd carefully built began to unravel. "COVID was devastating," David said. "No one was moving—especially not internationally. The company closed, and before I knew it, I couldn't keep up with the bills. I lost everything." For several weeks, he found himself outdoors, navigating a city that was still new to him.

That's when he heard about The Night Ministry. "Someone at a food pantry mentioned a place that offered food, clothing, and help. I showed up, and I was amazed. I've been coming ever since." David is one of the many people who come to The Night Ministry's Outreach and Health Team (OHM), which provides resources every week at the CTA Red Line (Howard) and Blue Line (Forest Park) train stations. Last year, across all their services, OHM served more than 5,400 clients, with 46 percent of those clients falling within the 50- to 65-year-old age range.

David found more than assistance. He found compassion. "If I'm being honest," he said, "I love the fact that they give a damn." He has bonded with many members of the OHM team, and they look forward to seeing him, smiling and sharing stories about growing up on the West Coast.

"In a world that's gotten so divided, The Night Ministry still shows up for people. They don't just hand you something and move on; they ask, 'What do you need? How can we help?' That's rare." Today, David is employed again and living temporarily in a church parsonage. "They trust me," he shared. "I treat it like a guest would—respectfully. You do that, and people invest in you."

Music remains his greatest comfort. A lifelong musician and rock enthusiast, he still finds healing in the songs that shaped him. "Music is my therapy," he smiled. "It's not about escape, it's about joy. It reminds me where I've been and keeps me moving forward."

Now, when he meets others facing hardship, David encourages them to connect with The Night Ministry. "They can't do everything," he said, "but they can do something, and sometimes that's more than what you had before."