Connecting at the crossroads since 1976

“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something “The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.” ― Barack Obama

The Night Ministry is based in Chicago The Night Ministry is based in Chicago. Its mission is to provide housing, health care and a connection to others. It offers services to members of our community struggling with poverty, loneliness or homelessness.

Through its Health Outreach Bus, Youth Outreach Van and Youth Shelter Network, they work in Chicago neighborhoods to reach adults, teens, pregnant and new moms who have nowhere else to go.

Programs Available Outreach Services: The Night Ministry’s Health Outreach Bus and Van offers medical exams, treatment and HIV testing, as well as coffee, conversation and a sense of community. The Youth Outreach teams reach out to homeless and LGBT youth in Lakeview to offer non-judgmental support, guidance, food and self-care supplies.

Short-Term Housing Their youth housing programs provide structured, safe and supportive living situations to youth from all backgrounds who face multiple, difficult challenges. The Crib is an overnight youth shelter for people age 18-24 that addresses immediate housing needs. A 120-Day Interim program offers longer-term, housing and social services for homeless youth.

Pregnant and Parenting Program The Night Ministry's Open Door program is the only shelter in Chicago that will work with pregnant or parenting teens as young as 14.

Transitional Living Program: STEPS aims to transition teens age 18-20 from homeless to independent living within two years.

History of the Night Ministry Founded in 1976 when 18 congregations of diverse faiths came together to help. They were originally known as The Northside Ecumenical Night Ministry. They started with one person reaching out to those in need on the nighttime streets of Lakeview and Lincoln Park.

In 1989, they began their Health Outreach Program with a converted 27-foot RV. Replacing the bedroom with a health exam room, 3 people took the program to three neighborhoods, four nights a week. In 2005, they purchased a new, customized 38-foot Health Outreach Bus to replace their old one.

They continue to grow their Outreach & Health Ministry They continue to grow their Outreach & Health Ministry. They now have an increased staff and volunteers, and are better able to serve those who visit their bus. Working with other agencies and the City of Chicago have greatly improved their ability to reach clients and potential clients. Word of mouth is still the number one way that youth and adults find out about their Health Outreach Program.

In 2007, they opened two additional youth housing programs: Transitional Living Program and Response-Ability Pregnant and Parenting Program. In 2011, they opened The Crib, our overnight youth shelter located in Lakeview.

The Outreach Bus Services 7 Locations Lakeview (Broadway & Belmont) Uptown  (Wilson & Hazel) Rogers Park (Howard & Damen) South Shore (Jeffery & 71st) Humboldt Park (Division & California) Pilsen (Cermak & Loomis) Wicker Park (Damen & LeMoyne)

Homeless Facts The average age of a homeless person in the United States is nine years old. Families with children are the fastest growing group of the homeless population. Nationally, one in five people in a soup kitchen line is a child. Many homeless children are alone and homeless, either runaways or “throwaways”. Nationally, approximately half of all women and children experiencing homelessness are fleeing domestic violence. http://goldiesplace.org/homeless-facts/ April 24, 2013

Ways to Help There are many ways to help involving a variety of commitments Groups as well as individuals are welcomed.

Health Outreach Bus: Serve hot food, coffee and water along side the bus in one of the seven different Chicago neighborhoods. Service Saturdays: Help sort donations and pack hygiene or condom kits. Youth Outreach Suppers: Serve hot dogs and sandwiches to youth and young adults with the Youth Outreach Van in the Lakeview neighborhood.

Donate Disposable diapers Socks Gift cards CTA Passes Items for hygiene kits: shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, etc Items for baby kits: bottles, bibs, hats and booties, diapers, etc.

Contact: To get involved contact The Night Ministry To Volunteer Groups: 773-506-6004 Individuals: 773-506-6015 For more information: thenightministry.org

Why? The Night Ministry is one of the few organizations that offer services for youth and pregnant teens. There is a variety of ways to help depending on your ability to commit. They also offer services to help the homeless get out of their situations, to improve their lives by offering services for resume writing and interviewing skills.

Questions

Components needed for presentation: 1. Explanation of the cause/organization: Who are they?

2. Statistics about the problem. Example: How many people are homeless in the Chicago area. Be sure to include details about statistics IE 1 in 5 homeless people is a child Nationally? In Chicago? Must: Cite your sources

3. History of the organization. How it was formed and when. Give background info.

4. Describe the services offered by the organization. How do they help? Who do they help?

5. State specifically all the ways others can get involved. Example: Make sandwiches, serve food to the homeless, etc. Look for an organization that offers more than one way to get involved.

6. List the contact information to the organization for involvement. Choose an organization based in CHICAGO Email address Phone numbers Address

Contact: To Volunteer Groups: 773-506-6004 Individuals: 773-506-6015 For more information: To get involved contact The Night Ministry thenightministry.org

7. Conclude your presentation with why others should spend their time with the organization you have chosen. What makes your cause important? Think about why you chose the organization. Don’t make a random choice.

Questions??????