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...

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...

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...

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...

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 are closing in on our $100,000 Paddle Raise Goal. Please consider a donation to help us get...

Jason struggled with homelessness and addiction on Chicago's streets for nearly two decades. Today, with help from The Night Ministry and a substance use treatment program, he has found permanent housing, stability, and hope. "It means everything to me, having a place. I have the basic necessities. When you're homeless, you don't have a bathroom or...

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...

I started at The Night Ministry in 1998 as an intern, and I never left. And though I have been here for a quarter century now, it feels like time has flown by.  Over these past 25 years, I have witnessed how, at The Night Ministry, we continue to find new ways to fulfill our mission to provide human connection, housing support, and health care...

Last fall, Kimberly opened her life up to a video crew from WTTW, Chicago's PBS station, for a documentary series about homelessness told through the lives of those who are experiencing it. She is well poised to do so. As a member of Youth 4 Truth, The Night Ministry's leadership program for young people, Kimberly has a passion for advocacy and is ...

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...

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...

This summer, The Night Ministry launched a Client Advisory Board for those served by its Outreach and Health Ministry Program, which brings health care, supportive services, and resources directly to people who are unhoused. Client Advisory Board members are recipients of the program's services who wish to provide feedback and gather information on...