connecting at the crossroads since 1976. “the best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do...
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Connecting at the Connecting at the crossroads since 1976crossroads since 1976
“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 The Night Ministry is based in Chicago. Its mission is to in Chicago. Its mission is to provide housingprovide housing, , health carehealth care and and a connection to othersa connection to others. .
It offers services to It offers services to members of our community members of our community
struggling with poverty, struggling with poverty, loneliness or homelessness. loneliness or homelessness.
Through its Through its Health Outreach BusHealth Outreach Bus, , Youth Outreach VanYouth Outreach Van and and Youth Youth Shelter NetworkShelter Network, they work in , they work in Chicago neighborhoods to reach Chicago neighborhoods to reach adults, teens, pregnant and new adults, teens, pregnant and new moms who have nowhere else to go.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 HousingShort-Term Housing
Their youth housing programs provide Their youth housing programs provide structured, safe and supportive living structured, safe and supportive living situations to youth from all backgrounds who situations to youth from all backgrounds who face multiple, difficult challenges. face multiple, difficult challenges.
The Crib is an overnight youth shelter for The Crib is an overnight youth shelter for people age 18-24 that addresses immediate people age 18-24 that addresses immediate housing needs. housing needs.
A 120-Day Interim program offers longer-A 120-Day Interim program offers longer-term, housing and social services for term, housing and social services for homeless youth. homeless youth.
Pregnant and Parenting Pregnant and Parenting ProgramProgram
The Night Ministry's Open Door The Night Ministry's Open Door program is the only shelter in program is the only shelter in Chicago that will work with Chicago that will work with pregnant or parenting teens as pregnant or parenting teens as young as 14.young as 14.
Transitional Living Transitional Living Program:Program:
STEPS aims to transition STEPS aims to transition teens age 18-20 from teens age 18-20 from homeless to independent homeless to independent living within two years. living within two years.
History of the Night History of the Night MinistryMinistry
Founded in 1976 when 18 Founded in 1976 when 18 congregations of diverse faiths came congregations of diverse faiths came together to help. They were together to help. They were originally known as The Northside originally known as The Northside Ecumenical Night Ministry. They Ecumenical Night Ministry. They started with one person reaching out started with one person reaching out to those in need on the nighttime to those in need on the nighttime streets of Lakeview and Lincoln Park. streets of Lakeview and Lincoln Park.
In 1989, they began their Health In 1989, they began their Health Outreach Program with a converted Outreach Program with a converted 27-foot RV. Replacing the bedroom 27-foot RV. Replacing the bedroom with a health exam room, 3 people with a health exam room, 3 people took the program to three took the program to three neighborhoods, four nights a week.neighborhoods, four nights a week.
In 2005, they purchased a new, In 2005, they purchased a new, customized 38-foot Health Outreach customized 38-foot Health Outreach Bus to replace their old one. Bus to replace their old one.
They continue to grow their Outreach They continue to grow their Outreach & Health Ministry. They now have an & Health Ministry. They now have an increased staff and volunteers, and increased staff and volunteers, and are better able to serve those who are better able to serve those who visit their bus. Working with other visit their bus. Working with other agencies and the City of Chicago agencies and the City of Chicago have greatly improved their ability to have greatly improved their ability to reach clients and potential clients. reach clients and potential clients.
Word of mouth is still the number one Word of mouth is still the number one
way that youth and adults find out way that youth and adults find out about their Health Outreach Program. about their Health Outreach Program.
In 2007, they opened two additional In 2007, they opened two additional youth housing programs: Transitional youth housing programs: Transitional Living Program and Response-Ability Living Program and Response-Ability Pregnant and Parenting Program.Pregnant and Parenting Program.
In 2011, they opened The Crib, our In 2011, they opened The Crib, our overnight youth shelter located in overnight youth shelter located in Lakeview.Lakeview.
The Outreach Bus ServicesThe Outreach Bus Services7 Locations7 Locations
Lakeview (Broadway & Belmont)Lakeview (Broadway & Belmont) Uptown (Wilson & Hazel)Uptown (Wilson & Hazel) Rogers Park (Howard & Damen)Rogers Park (Howard & Damen) South Shore (Jeffery & 71st)South Shore (Jeffery & 71st) Humboldt Park (Division & California)Humboldt Park (Division & California) Pilsen (Cermak & Loomis)Pilsen (Cermak & Loomis) Wicker Park (Damen & LeMoyne)Wicker Park (Damen & LeMoyne)
Homeless FactsHomeless Facts The average age of a homeless person in the United The average age of a homeless person in the United
States is nine years old. States is nine years old.
Families with children are the fastest growing group Families with children are the fastest growing group of the homeless population. of the homeless population.
Nationally, one in five people in a soup kitchen line Nationally, one in five people in a soup kitchen line is a child. is a child.
Many homeless children are alone and homeless, Many homeless children are alone and homeless, either runaways or “throwaways”. either runaways or “throwaways”.
Nationally, approximately half of all women and Nationally, approximately half of all women and children experiencing homelessness are fleeing children experiencing homelessness are fleeing domestic violence. domestic violence.
http://goldiesplace.org/homeless-facts/ April 24, 2013http://goldiesplace.org/homeless-facts/ April 24, 2013
Ways to HelpWays to Help
There are many ways to help There are many ways to help involving a variety of commitmentsinvolving a variety of commitments
Groups as well as individuals are Groups as well as individuals are welcomed.welcomed.
Health Outreach Bus:Health Outreach Bus:Serve hot food, coffee and water along side Serve hot food, coffee and water along side
the bus in one of the seven different the bus in one of the seven different Chicago neighborhoods.Chicago neighborhoods.
Service Saturdays:Service Saturdays:Help sort donations and pack hygiene or Help sort donations and pack hygiene or
condom kits.condom kits.
Youth Outreach Suppers:Youth Outreach Suppers:Serve hot dogs and sandwiches to youth and Serve hot dogs and sandwiches to youth and
young adults with the Youth Outreach Van young adults with the Youth Outreach Van in the Lakeview neighborhood.in the Lakeview neighborhood.
DonateDonate
Disposable diapersDisposable diapers SocksSocks Gift cardsGift cards CTA PassesCTA Passes Items for hygiene kits: shampoo, Items for hygiene kits: shampoo,
toothpaste, deodorant, etctoothpaste, deodorant, etc Items for baby kits: bottles, bibs, Items for baby kits: bottles, bibs,
hats and booties, diapers, etc.hats and booties, diapers, etc.
Contact:Contact:
To get involved contact The Night To get involved contact The Night MinistryMinistry
To Volunteer To Volunteer Groups: 773-506-6004Groups: 773-506-6004Individuals: 773-506-6015Individuals: 773-506-6015
For more information:For more information:thenightministry.orgthenightministry.org
Why?Why?
The Night Ministry is one of the few The Night Ministry is one of the few organizations that offer services for youth organizations that offer services for youth and pregnant teens.and pregnant teens.
There is a variety of ways to help There is a variety of ways to help depending on your ability to commit.depending on your ability to commit.
They also offer services to help the They also offer services to help the homeless get out of their situations, to homeless get out of their situations, to improve their lives by offering services for improve their lives by offering services for resume writing and interviewing skills.resume writing and interviewing skills.
QuestionsQuestions
Components needed for Components needed for presentation:presentation:
1.1. Explanation of the Explanation of the cause/organization:cause/organization:
Who are they?Who are they?
2. Statistics about the problem.2. Statistics about the problem.Example: How many people are homeless in Example: How many people are homeless in
the Chicago area.the Chicago area.
Be sure to include details about statisticsBe sure to include details about statisticsIE 1 in 5 homeless people is a childIE 1 in 5 homeless people is a childNationally? In Chicago?Nationally? In Chicago?
Must: Cite your sourcesMust: Cite your sources
3. History of the organization.3. History of the organization.
How it was formed and when. How it was formed and when.
Give background info.Give background info.
4. Describe the services offered by the 4. Describe the services offered by the organization.organization.
How do they help?How do they help?
Who do they help?Who do they help?
5. State specifically 5. State specifically allall the ways others the ways others can get involved.can get involved.
Example: Make sandwiches, serve food Example: Make sandwiches, serve food to the homeless, etc.to the homeless, etc.
Look for an organization that offers Look for an organization that offers more than one way to get involved. more than one way to get involved.
6. List the contact information to the 6. List the contact information to the organization for involvement.organization for involvement.
Choose an organization based in CHICAGOChoose an organization based in CHICAGO
Email addressEmail address
Phone numbersPhone numbers
AddressAddress
Contact:Contact:
To Volunteer To Volunteer Groups: 773-506-6004Groups: 773-506-6004Individuals: 773-506-6015Individuals: 773-506-6015
For more information:For more information: To get involved contact The Night To get involved contact The Night
MinistryMinistrythenightministry.orgthenightministry.org
7. Conclude your presentation with why others 7. Conclude your presentation with why others should spend their time with the organization you should spend their time with the organization you have chosen. What makes your cause important?have chosen. What makes your cause important?
Think about why you chose the organization.Think about why you chose the organization.
Don’t make a random choice.Don’t make a random choice.
Questions??????Questions??????