One Decision Can Change a Life
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 mother on the city's North Side.
One decision.
We were fortunate to have been placed with a family who utilized resources — like those The Night Ministry provides — to support our journey and our ability to reunite with our mother. My one decision to be the first in my family to earn a college degree and commit to a career in support of communities who face similar challenges, is how I arrived here at this impactful agency.
Each day, across Chicago, over 65,000 people are seeking support as they navigate homelessness. Fortunately, The Night Ministry is here to deliver that assistance. Our mission to provide human connection, housing support, and health care to those who are unhoused or experiencing poverty is achieved as we work alongside our clients to advocate for their immediate physical, emotional, and social needs while affirming our shared humanity.
Last year, The Night Ministry served approximately 4,500 people through our Outreach and Health Ministry Program and over 600 people across our Youth Programs. We made over 40,000 outreach connections with unhoused, precariously housed, and medically vulnerable individuals.
As we look to the future, we will continue to deepen our impact, by expanding our mental health services and transitional housing options and by investing in innovative practices to support our most vulnerable communities.
I am honored to serve as The Night Ministry's President & CEO. However, I would not be here if it were not for committed and caring community members like you. Your one decision to support our work, whether through giving, volunteering, or both, is vital. I hope you will continue to support our efforts—because your contribution can change a life.