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Our Stories

News and insights from The Night Ministry community.

The Night Ministry in the News

Our work serving our unhoused neighbors in Chicago has been in the news this month. Here are a few of your appearances. Our President & CEO, Carol J. Sharp, joined WGN-TV's Daytime Chicago to talk about how we support Chicago's unhoused residents during inclement weather and throughout the year. Watch the conversation and learn about our extend...

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Yolanda's Story: "For a Whole Year, They Took Care of Me"

Yolanda outside the encampment where she lived for more than two years. Photo by Lloyd DeGrane for WTTW

Yolanda has a generous spirit. Even when she was struggling, living under a bridge by the Chicago River, she looked out for those around her, sharing resources like the BBQ meals she grilled. "You need something to eat? Come around here, and I'm going to feed you," she recalls telling her neighbors she shared an encampment with. "When I was growing...

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"They Changed the Trajectory of My Life." Entrepreneur Reflects on Her Time with The Night Ministry

“I love The Night Ministry,” says entrepreneur Kay’Chanel, who benefited from the agency’s services while experiencing homelessness as a pregnant young mother.

Kay'Chanel was 16, expecting a child, and experiencing housing instability when she came to stay at The Night Ministry's shelter for pregnant and parenting mothers. Now, 14 years later, she is a successful entrepreneur who credits the organization with helping her realize her dreams. "It wasn't what I expected," Kay'Chanel recalls about her first i...

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Night Lights Raises $107K+ for Unhoused Youth

Congratulations to The Night Ministry's Associate Board for a tremendously successful Night Lights!

Congratulations to The Night Ministry's Associate Board! They raised more than $107,000 to support Chicago's unhoused young people at the Night Lights event held at Marshall's Landing on Thursday, October 10. Proceeds from the event will benefit The Crib, our overnight shelter for young adults. Last year, The Crib provided safe shelter and sup...

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Scenes from Lighting Up the Night 2024

Thank you to all of our friends who joined us on May 23 at Lighting Up the Night! Because of you, we raised $347,000 in support of our mission to provide human connection, housing support, and health care to those who are unhoused or experiencing poverty. We were proud to present Illuminating a Path to a Better Tomorrow at Lighting Up the Night. Th...

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The Night Ministry’s Outreach in Gompers Park

The Night Ministry's Sylvester Farmer provides a meal to a Health Outreach Bus visitor in Gompers Park.

In fulfilling our mission to serve Chicago's unhoused residents, The Night Ministry regularly conducts outreach among the individuals living in Gompers Park on Chicago's Northwest Side. Our Street Medicine Team and Health Outreach Bus visit the site to offer critical resources such as free health care and case management services. The latter includ...

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“I’m Excited to Have a Place of My Own.” Young Adults Transition from Shelter to Apartment Living

Pathways participants Silvono and Chris display their apartment keys as they settle into their new home.

It's 10 a.m. on a beautiful Sunday in September, and residents of The Night Ministry's Pathways Transitional Living Program for young adults have gathered for a special brunch to mark a momentous occasion. After weeks of planning and anticipation, today, they are making a giant stride on their paths to greater stability: moving into apartments. "We...

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Tragedy on the CTA

We are heartbroken by the murder of four of our fellow citizens on the CTA's Blue Line on Monday. We join the victims' families, friends, and the entire community in mourning the senseless loss of their lives. Everyone, regardless of their housing status, has the right to live their life in safety. The heinous act of violence is painfully relevant ...

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JT’s Supports Our Mission One Delicious Sandwich at a Time

JT's Sandwich Shop owner Chris Cunningham

Did you know that grabbing lunch on Tuesdays in Chicago's Irving Park neighborhood can benefit The Night Ministry? For the last four years, JT's Genuine Sandwich Shop on North Elston has supported our mission with a generous one-dollar donation from every sale of their delicious Breaded Pork Tenderloin sandwich on Tuesdays. "I appreciate everything...

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2022 in Review

As the year comes to a close, we are looking back at memorable milestones and accomplishments at The Night Ministry in 2022.  Parenting with Purpose Settles into Its New Home Parenting with Purpose provides long-term, supportive housing for up to eight pregnant and parenting young mothers and their children. The private bedrooms for each resid...

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The Night Ministry Became My Haven

Denishe shared her story at The Night Ministry’s Lighting Up the Night Gala in May.

By Denishe Medeline Mberi, Graduate of The Night Ministry's Youth Housing Programs and Social Media Influencer On February 14, 2020, I wrote the following: "My life is falling apart. I feel anxious yet look calm, I feel sad yet tell everyone otherwise. I know that I am broken, but I can't seem to find the glue to put myself back together. I want to...

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How We Are Assisting Residents of the Desplaines Encampment

The Night Ministry Street Medicine Van in downtown Chicago. Team members have been assisting residents of an encampment closed by the City of Chicago on July 17.

July 17, 2024 The Night Ministry is among the Chicago organizations that have been conducting outreach with the residents of the tent encampment at Roosevelt and Desplaines that the City of Chicago closed on July 17, 2024. The City requested our help with this process as The Night Ministry has established relationships with many of the encampment r...

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How You Can Support Our Unhoused Neighbors After Supreme Court Ruling Criminalizing Street Homelessness

By Carol J. Sharp, MPAPresident & CEO Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that laws criminalizing sleeping in public spaces do not violate the U.S. Constitution, even when individuals are unhoused and their communities do not have sufficient shelter capacity. The Court announced this decision less than 10 days after the City of Chicago r...

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Lighting Up the Night 2024 Honoress

It was our privilege to honor those who have made a lasting contribution to the mission of The Night Ministry and our community at our annual Gala on May 23. Lamplighter Award Chicago Transit Authority The Lamplighter Award symbolizes an unwavering commitment to our mission and to those we serve. Since the fall of 2020, the recipient of the Lamplig...

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Video: Illuminating a Path to a Better Tomorrow

Experience The Night Ministry's impact on the lives of our unhoused neighbors.  The Night Ministry is a beacon of hope for Chicago's most vulnerable residents. Experience how our staff, volunteers, and supporters come together to provide human connection, housing support, and health care to members of our community who are unhoused or exp...

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The Legacy of Tom Behrens

The Rev. Tom Behrens, The Night Ministry's Founding President & Former CEO, on the Health Outreach Bus.

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of Rev. Tom Behrens, the Founding President and Former CEO of The Night Ministry. Tom's vision, dedication, and unwavering commitment to serving our community's most vulnerable members left an indelible mark on our organization and the city of Chicago. As we mourn the loss of Tom and ke...

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A Stable Home and Advocacy Work Empower Youth Leader Adalina

Youth 4 Truth member Adalina obtained an apartment through a Rapid Rehousing event.

Adalina now has a home of her own. But the 20-year-old knows what it is like to experience housing instability. In recent months, she has stayed temporarily with family and friends and in shelters and housing programs, including at The Crib, The Night Ministry's emergency overnight shelter for young people, as well as its short-term youth housing p...

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One Decision Can Change a Life

Carol J. Sharp is the President & CEO of The Night Ministry

By Carol J. Sharp, President & CEO One decision. One decision has the power to shift the trajectory of your life. When I was two years old, I experienced housing insecurity. For approximately five years, my sister and I navigated Chicago, traveling from a foster home located on the South Side in the Englewood neighborhood to visit my biological...

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Remembering Barbara Bolsen

Barbara Bolsen was a longtime and beloved employee of The Night Ministry.

It is with deep sadness that we inform you that Barbara (Barb) Bolsen, The Night Ministry's former Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement, passed away on Wednesday, August 16. Barb joined The Night Ministry in 1997 after leaving a 20-year career in journalism and graduating from Chicago Theological Seminary. Barb once tol...

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Carol Sharp Joins The Night Ministry as President & CEO

Carol J. Sharp joins The Night Ministry as President & CEO.

After a national search, human services leader Carol J. Sharp has been named President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The Night Ministry. Sharp assumed her responsibilities on August 14, 2023. A Chicago native, Sharp brings a deep passion for serving marginalized communities. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to enhancing t...

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The Night Ministry is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Our Federal Tax ID (EIN) is 36-3145764.