Hinsdale Group Rallying Support for Young Homeless

The following letter was submitted to Patch by Jackie Frett:

Thrown out; horrible home situations; mental health issues; economics.  

These complicated situations leave 11,000 young people without homes, according to The Night Ministry, an estimated 40 percent of whom identify as GLBT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender).

Rev. David Weasley of The Night Ministry came to Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) Hinsdale on Oct. 2 to not only tell us of the “moments of terror and sadness” that he has witnessed, but also of the strength and resiliency of these young people and what we can do to help.

A homeless shelter staffed by Chicago’s Night Ministry, called The Crib, opened Jan. 1, 2011. This shelter, housed in the Lakeview Lutheran Church, provides 20 beds for youths age 18 to 24, the most underserved homeless age group. Demand is overwhelming. Entry is by a lottery system, with bus cards given to those that must be turned away.

The number of homeless and the limited number of beds makes “street outreach” extremely important.

The Night Ministry Youth Outreach Van provides soup, sandwiches and hot beverages to 200 people three nights per week in the Lakeview neighborhood and Rogers Park. The food and service is provided by volunteer groups guided by Night Ministry staff.

The Health Outreach Bus travels to six neighborhoods from Monday through Saturday from 7 p.m. to 11:30 p.m., with nurses providing immediate care for those who do not have access to traditional health facilities.

Volunteer groups from around the city and the suburbs collect  food and other necessities—socks, hats, gloves, wool blankets, and sturdy sleeping bags—to distribute and connect with those in need.

Rev. Weasley told us that because people can and will take advantage of these young people, it is important to build trust before kids will speak up and ask for help.

Weasley said, “The goal is consistency and relationship-building with as much dignity as we can. We create a place of radical welcome right on the street corner. These places are necessary for survival, so they can just catch their breath.”

Our winters are brutal. The need is great. The Night Ministry relies on volunteers and donors to reach the most vulnerable in our society. To help, contact Rev. Weasley by emailing david@thenightministry.org. Or you can contact PFLAG Hinsdale to participate in “Holiday Stockings for the Night Ministry.”

PFLAG Hinsdale meets from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the first Sunday of every month at , 17 W. Maple St. For more information on PFLAG, email jackiekf@aol.com or visit www.pflag.org.