Fulfilling Our Mission during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Paul W. Hamann
President & CEO
The Night Ministry
Our Impact
689 COVID-19 Screenings
Our Health Outreach & Ministry Program, including the Health Outreach Bus and the Street Medicine Team, has provided free screenings for the coronavirus to individuals experiencing homelessness or poverty.
162 Young People Sheltered in Place
Young adults and their children experiencing homelessness and housing instability have found safe environments in which to shelter in place, along with meals and supportive services.
6,866 Meals Served
The Health Outreach Bus and Street Medicine programs have distributed sack suppers, many of them provided by donors, to hungry individuals and families.
1,055 Outreach Contacts on the CTA
Outreach & Health Ministry staff took to the rails to provide health screenings and meals to homeless individuals riding the trains at night.
The young people, adults, and families that The Night Ministry serve are particularly vulnerable at this time. Those living on the streets may be at higher risk of contracting the coronavirus. It is difficult to practice health and hygiene practices, and many have compromised immune systems or underlaying health concerns.
Those whom we serve are also hit hard by the pandemic’s impact on our economy and society, with some social services they rely upon scaled back or not operating. Meanwhile, with many businesses shuttered or running at reduced capacity, individuals and families living paycheck to paycheck find themselves scrambling to pay for housing, medicine, food, and other essentials. Those who have lost their jobs may also no longer have health care coverage.
Make a Financial Contribution
The Night Ministry is incurring additional costs during this period for such items as food for our programs and emergency safety equipment as well as staff overtime and supplemental compensation to acknowledge essential employees who are required to work under challenging times.
You can support our mission during this challenging time by making a donation online or by calling 773-784-9000.
Make an In-Kind Donation
The Night Ministry is in need of the following items to help us continue serving our clients.
- Hand sanitizer
- Disinfectant wipes
- Surgical and N95 respirator masks
- Food:
- Bananas
- Oranges
- Trail mix
- Soft granola bars
- Sack Suppers
- Meals at The Crib
- Jewel-Osco gift cards
Please contact Miranda Dean, Resource Coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-506-6022 to make arrangments to donate these items.
Support Our Meal Programs
We continue to seek assistance with providing meals for our clients. We are collecting sack suppers for our Health Outreach Programs (The Bus and Street Medicine) and seeking hot meal deliveries for The Crib overnight shelter.
Sack suppers should include a sandwich (meat and cheese only, no condiments), fruit cup, a snack, and a bottle of water.
To make arrangements to donate sack suppers or provide meals for The Crib, please contact Andrew Hart, Volunteer Coordinator, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 773-506-6033.
Updates on Our Services
The Health Outreach Bus Resumes Regular Schedule
After operating on an abbreviated schedule during the spring, The Health Outreach Bus is back to its normal schdule. Find the schedule here.
The Crib Wraps Up 24/7 Operations
The Crib, our overnight shelter for young adults ages 18 to 24, had been staying open 24 hours a day during the State of Illinois's shelter-in-place order and beyond. 24/7 services at The Crib have ended. The Crib is now providing services from 9 pm to 9 am, with intake at 8:45 pm. If you are a young adult in need of emergency shelter, please call 877-286-2523.
Youth Outreach Team Resumes Thursday Night Outreach
The Youth Outreach Team have resumed their weekly Thursday outreach event at Belmont and Halsted at 8:30 pm.
Volunteer Shifts Are Resuming
Individual volunteers are coming back! We have precautions in place to protect everyone's health and safety, but we are so happy to have our volunteers with us again.
For more information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Night Ministry in the News
The work of The Night Ministry and its dedicated staff during the pandemic have been featured in many recent news stories. Here are links to a few of them.
How the Pandemic Is Impacting Childhood Homelessness. WGN-TV News, May 19, 2020.
Homeless Chicagoans Could Face "Major Fallout" from COVID-19. Belt Magazine. May 8, 2020.
Chicago's Night Ministry Turns Overnight Shelter into 24/7 Home. WBBM Newsradio, April 15, 2020.
Homeless during a Pandemic. Chicago Reader, April 14, 2020.
Public Health Groups Strengthen Support for Homeless. Newsy, April 14, 2020
COVID-19 Across Chicago: Boystown. WTTW Chicago Tonight, April 9, 2020
Important Links
As collective knowledge about the coronavirus evolves, we are providing the following links to government websites where you may find updates on the pandemic, tips on how to protect yourself from the virus, what to do if you experience symptoms, and other important information.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 website