The Night Ministry is now operating The Crib in a new location at 1735 N. Ashland Ave.
The previous location in the basement of Lakeview Lutheran Church only included 900 square feet of space—a prime reason for the relocation. The new location includes more rooms and enhanced utilities.
New expanses and appliances include a small lobby that opens early, a fully equipped kitchen, a private talking space, a large dining space with vibrant wall art, lockers, a lounge, a laundry room, extra storage, additional showers, bathrooms, sinks and two floors of offices for staff members. Staff say that community members are enjoying the new beds and extra space.
"There were a couple times last year or so at the old location there was rain and the basement flooded," said communications manager Burke Patten. "We won't have flooding in here. It's also a huge change that we have enough beds and that we're above ground."
Although the situation has become more difficult during a pandemic, the additional space allows community members to eat meals, store their items, participate in activities and be socially distant more efficiently. Volunteer groups haven't been able to help serve food but many have been dropping off meals.
Outside the facility, there is a new parking space for the healthcare outreach bus that offers medical care to local areas. In the new location, they're able to reach more routes that go to areas in need.
"We're much closer to most of the neighborhoods the bus serves. It goes to seven different neighborhoods," said Patten. "The [farthest] north is Rogers Park, but otherwise we're going to Pilsen, Humboldt Park, Garfield Park and South Shore; we're going south and west. We're much closer to those locations than we were at Ravenswood."
