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Our Stories

News and insights from The Night Ministry community.

No Clear Path to Housing for Many Who Experience Homelessness

Individuals experiencing homelessness often face multiple hurdles as they pursue permanent housing.

The process of renting an apartment or buying a home can be difficult enough. But individuals experiencing homelessness face an array of challenges when trying to find stable housing. "There are some very common situations among the homeless population such as little or no income, a low credit score, an arrest record, or a history of evictions that...

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Youth Aftercare Services Support Transitions

Bridget Thomas is responsible for supporting former residents of The Night Ministry’s Youth Housing Programs.

​The relationship with The Night Ministry doesn't end when residents move on from the agency's Youth Housing Programs. "The Night Ministry provides comprehensive case management for young people who have been discharged from our housing programs," said Bridget Thomas, Housing Stabilization Specialist. "We want to help them maintain their stability ...

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The Night Ministry Makes a Big Move to Enhance Services

The Night Ministry is moving The Crib along with Health Outreach and administrative staff to a new location in Bucktown.

Its iconic water tower, decorated with the blue stripes and red stars of the flag of Chicago, is a landmark of the city's skyline. And soon the four-story building at 1735 North Ashland will house one of Chicago's most iconic organizations. The Night Ministry is moving key portions of its operations to the red-brick building, located just north of ...

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Reap the Rewards 2019

David Wywiaolowski, Director of Outreach & Health Ministry, is celebrating 20 years with The Night Ministry.

​On April 4, 2019, The Night Ministry honored 11 employees at our Annual Reap the Rewards of Service Luncheon. Their colleagues, family members, friends, and members of  The Night Ministry's Board of Directors gathered to celebrate their multiple years with the organization. Honorees were presented with awards by Paul W. Ha...

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Surveys at Youth Housing Programs Help The Night Ministry Better Understand the Needs of Clients

Short term shelter, securing employment, and food are the top three pressing needs reported by residents of The Night Ministry's Youth Housing Programs.

Four times a year, The Night Ministry's Mission Fulfillment Department visits the organization's Youth Housing Programs to learn about the young people The Night Ministry serves and to find out how they feel their needs are being met. The results of the anonymous surveys conducted by Mission Fulfillment contribute to a data-driven culture of learni...

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The Night Ministry in the News During the Polar Vortex

The Night Ministry's work serving Chicago's homeless population during the dangerously cold weather of January 2019 was highlighted by several media organizations. Below you will find links to a number of the stories. WGN-TVColder Temperatures Mean Increased Risk for Chicago's Homeless Population WBBM NewsradioMobile Assistance Unit Helps Homeless ...

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Winter Poses Unique Challenges for The Night Ministry’s Clients and Staff

Matthew Sorenson (left), Medical Director of the Outreach and Health Ministry Program, consults with a patient.

Making it through a winter season of snow and extreme cold can be difficult for all of us. But winter conditions can pose extra challenges for individuals experiencing homelessness as well as The Night Ministry staff members who provide mobile outreach services. "The conditions of homelessness make recovery from some of the more common winter ailme...

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Mission Fulfillment Takes Survey Results Back to the Source

Bringing survey results back to clients ensures that guests of The Crib and The Night Ministry’s other Youth Housing Programs are given a forum to express their opinions.

Serving in the Next Decade, The Night Ministry's current strategic plan, calls for growing and sustaining a data-driven culture of learning. Surveying clients across the organization is an important avenue for achieving that goal. Over the last few years, The Night Ministry began sharing survey results with its clients. Gregory Gross, Director of M...

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Volunteering with The Night Ministry Is Personal

Miriam Thompson says she was drawn to volunteering with The Night Ministry because she could relate to some of the challenges our clients face.

Every year, hundreds of volunteers contribute their time, energy, and passion to The Night Ministry's mission. Many inspired to give back by personal experiences. Miriam Thompson, who greets clients on the Health Outreach Bus while serving meals and coffee, was drawn to The Night Ministry because she had experienced a period of homelessness. "I loo...

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Nurse's Corner: Caring for Patients Is a Privilege for Bethany Hess

Nurse Practitioner Bethany Hess gets ready to check a patient’s blood pressure on the Health Outreach Bus.

Nurse Practitioner Bethany Hess's philosophy of patient care is rooted in respect for others and acceptance of each person's unique experience of life. "I believe in client-centered care. This requires understanding the needs of the people whom we serve, their circumstances, and the challenges they may be facing," said Hess, who provides free basic...

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A Look Back at 2018 Holiday Celebrations

Every year, the generosity of our supporters allows us to celebrate the holidays with the young people and adults we serve across the city. We hold a holiday party for clients of our Youth Programs, which includes a sit-down meal, games, and wrapped presents. Meanwhile clients of our Health Outreach Bus are also treated to holiday celebrations...

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Stocking Stuffing Is a Seasonal Tradition for Supporters

A client of The Night Ministry holds up a gift stocking. The generosity of our supporters allows us to give stockings during the holiday season.

Every year, The Night Ministry's generous supporters help make the holiday season a little brighter for the children, youth, and adults we serve by contributing to the celebrations we hold across all of our programs in December. One of the biggest ways our friends help is through the donation of stockings that are filled with essentials like socks,...

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Who Are We Serving at the Health Outreach Bus?

Digging into the 2018 Outreach and Health Ministry Street Survey Results Creating a data-driven culture of learning is one of the goals of Serving in the Next Decade, The Night Ministry's current strategic plan. Gregory Gross, Director of Mission Fulfillment, says surveys conducted with The Night Ministry's clients play key roles in building that c...

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Having Benefited from The Night Ministry, Craig Echols is Helping Other Youth Find Their Way

By Helen Grove Craig Echols discovered The Night Ministry at a crossroads in his life. At 19 years old, he had recently been released from Cook County Jail and was living in a rehabilitation facility that brought about its own set of challenges, including hostile tenants that made the facility an unsettling place to live. Recognizing that the rehab...

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In My Own Words: What Inspires You To Live Life?

What Inspires You?

​By Malika Tate, a member of Youth 4 Truth, The Night Ministry's leadership and advocacy group for young people. When I first wake up in the morning normally I do not want to get up. But reminding myself of my purpose and goals in life helps me get up every day. They inspire me to live life. As human beings, we have purposes here on earth, whether ...

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Meet Board Member Suzanne Hoyes

Suzanne Hoyes was looking for a way to meaningfully participate in the Chicago community when she moved here in 2014. She found a way to do that by joining The Night Ministry's Board of Directors. We asked Hoyes, who is Vice President, Compliance for Capri Capital Partners, LLC, a real estate investment management firm, about her experience as a Bo...

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On the Road with the Street Medicine Team

The Street Medicine Team takes health care directly to individuals who face challenges in accessing traditional medical services.

By Sam RitcheyThe Associate Board It's already pushing 80 degrees early on a humid, mid-August Saturday morning when the Street Medicine van pulls up outside The Night Ministry's Ravenswood headquarters. Outreach Professional Milton Alvarez jumps out. A pair of volunteers wait for him at the front door, ready to load food, water, clothing, and hygi...

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Caribbean HIV Educator and Advocate Observes The Night Ministry’s Health Outreach Program

​Michael Thomas has seen the effects of stigmatization on HIV testing and education in his home country of Grenada. "There's a lot of stigma that prevents people from being comfortable and being able to go to the clinics to be tested," Thomas said. "We have situations where people in the communities that we work with are afraid to get tested,"...

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New Zealand Free Clinic Director Visits The Night Ministry

Beth Stitely (right), Director of the Servants Health Centre in New Zealand, visits with The Night Ministry Nurse Practitioner, Bethany Hess, on the Health Outreach Bus.

We had a special visitor at the Health Outreach Bus earlier this month -- all the way from New Zealand! Beth Stitely, director of a free health care clinic in New Zealand, was in the Chicago area as a guest of the Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics. On Wednesday, October 10, Stitely visited CommunityHealth's clinic and Th...

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Peer Outreach Professionals Help The Night Ministry Engage Homeless Youth

Peer Outreach Professional Sharday Hamilton is an integral part of the Youth Outreach Team. (Photo courtesy of the Chicago Foundation for Women)

Sometimes there is wisdom in knowing that you don't know it all. The Night Ministry's Youth Outreach Team makes contact with homeless young people across the city, connecting them with housing, education, vocational, and physical resources as well as providing compassionate support along their journeys to stability. But a few years ago, the Team's ...

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1735 North Ashland Avenue, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60622 | 773-784-9000
The Night Ministry is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Our Federal Tax ID (EIN) is 36-3145764.