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Street Medicine: A New Frontier in Outreach Services

DSC_3136 The Night Ministry's Street Medicine Program brings health care and supportive services directly to Chicago's unsheltered homeless population. Photo by Lloyd DeGrane.
On Friday, September 13, 2019, The Night Ministry's President & CEO, Paul W. Hamann, spoke to medical professionals and supporters of The Night Ministry's mission in a special event with Dr. Jim Withers, Medical Director of Operation Safety Net at Pittsburgh Mercy Health System and a pioneer in the field of street medicine. Below you'll fi...
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Practicing on the Streets Is a Good Fit for Nurse Practitioner Stephan Koruba

Stephan Senior Nurse Practitioner, Stephan Koruba, consults with a patient about foot care in the Street Medicine Van.
Having made house calls while working for a safety net clinic in suburban Aurora, The Night Ministry's Senior Nurse Practitioner, Stephan Koruba, has experience bringing health care directly to people where they live. He's still doing that today as a member of the Street Medicine Team, but most of the patients he sees these days don't have a perman...
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Construction Work Begins at 1735 North Ashland

We have begun construction work inside 1735 North Ashland, the new home of The Night Ministry's central office, Health Outreach Bus Program, and our overnight shelter for young adults, The Crib. The first step was gutting the second and third floors of the building so we could build out our open office plan. The first floor, where The Cri...
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Heat-Related Illness a Danger for Homeless

DeGraneWest-Side-Chicago-min-min High blood pressure can be exacerbated by hot weather. Photo by Lloyd DeGrane.
While winter weather poses dangers for individuals experiencing homelessness, living on the streets during the summer can create its own set of challenges. Staff members with The Night Ministry's Health Outreach Bus and Street Medicine programs educate their clients about potential heat-related health conditions such as heat exhaustion and stroke, ...
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Celebrating Human Connection

During Lighting Up the Night, our Annual Awards Dinner & Auction, The Night Ministry took a look at the third aspect of its mission---human connection. Our President & CEO, Paul W. Hamann, spoke about how human connection is at the root of the services we provide. Read his remarks below. The Night Ministry has cultivated a data-driven cultu...
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Lighting Up the Night 2019

On June 11, 2019, The Night Ministry held Lighting Up the Night, its Annual Awards Dinner & Auction, emceed by WTTW host and producer, Geoffrey Baer. Thanks to event sponsors and attendees, we raised nearly $500,000 in support of our mission to provide housing, health care, and human connection to our community members experiencing ho...
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Kellogg Board Fellows Serve and Learn at The Night Ministry

dan Kellogg MBA candidate Dan Kish is finishing up his term as a Board Fellow on The Night Ministry's Board of Directors.
Every year, a select group of students from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management join the boards of Chicago-area nonprofits as ex-officio members, tackling strategic projects while gaining valuable experience in board governance. The Night Ministry has been one of those organizations for more than a decade, one of the reasons Kell...
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Physician Brings Decades of Hospital Experience to the Streets of Chicago

Ralph-min Dr. Ralph Ryan consults with a patient on a chilly Saturday while making the rounds with the Street Medicine Team. Photo by Lloyd DeGrane.
After 35 years as an interventional cardiologist in Michigan, Dr. Ralph Ryan is now practicing on the streets of Chicago. Ryan provides free health care to individuals who are experiencing homelessness, as a volunteer physician with The Night Ministry's Outreach and Health Ministry Program, most often on the Street Medicine Team. Being part of a te...
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Phoenix Hall Expands Its Mission to Serve a Wider Base of Students and Their Families

phoenix-hall-min Residents prepare dinner at Phoenix Hall, The Night Ministry's housing program for high school students experiencing homelessness.
It's been a year of milestones at Phoenix Hall, capped off by six of the program's residents graduating from high school. Located in Chicago's West Lawndale neighborhood, Phoenix Hall is The Night Ministry's residence for high schoolers experiencing housing instability. It's named after the mascot of North Lawndale College Prep High School, which, ...
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In My Own Words: For My Daughter - 04/18/2019

tiana-min For My Daughter - 04/18/2019
A poem by Tiana Johnson The world I wish to give to you. Though you are my world at the age of two. Growing and changing with phases of the sun. Seems that just yesterday you were only 1. Waking every morning with a smile that is true. I can only hope to be as patient as you. Forgiveness is in you, and love radiates from. For 777 days I have b...
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In My Own Words: Music Saved My Life

willspirit-sbln-106481-unsplash-min
By Daniel Barber Writing and performing music saved my life. When you're locked up, there's not much to do. I'd always loved poetry, so I spent my time reading, writing, and focusing on my vocabulary. Life doesn't always go your way, and to snap out of my depressive state, I had to put my thoughts into words on paper. Being homeless is tough. But I...
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No Clear Path to Housing for Many Who Experience Homelessness

housin_20190503-191719_1 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 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

outside-again-min 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-podiu_20190405-183144_1 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

171107-NightMinistry-STEPS-1060 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-TV Colder Temperatures Mean Increased Risk for Chicago's Homeless Population WBBM Newsradio Mobile Assistance Unit Helps Homeles...
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Winter Poses Unique Challenges for The Night Ministry’s Clients and Staff

Matthew-Sorenson 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

survey-back-to-clients-min 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 ...
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Volunteering with The Night Ministry Is Personal

Volunteer-story 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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