“For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me . . . And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” –Matthew 25:35-36, 40 KJV

For many people, winter is an uncomfortable distraction, but for those on the streets, it is life and death. Here is a sample of some of our current residents and their experiences.

Billy—“My wife and I slept outside last year during the winter a couple of nights and it was hard. We had to use several blankets and sleep close to each other for warmth. The worst part is how hard and cold the ground is. That cold just creeps into your bones. We thank God for PGM because this year, we are safe and warm.”

Jeremy—“I was living in my Cadillac, and it was freezing cold. My heat was on and off in my car for a week. Going through that was crazy, I was freezing and wearing extra layers in the car to survive. I would have to conserve heat when it worked. I was afraid to open the window or the door because I would lose heat in the car. Many days, my hands and toes were freezing. I would wake up with frost on the inside of my windshield. I told myself I didn’t want to experience this again. It was a humbling experience, and I felt God was teaching me that it wasn’t about worldly riches. I learned to trust God to help me when in need.”

Anonymous—“After living 2 years rent-free, I was given a DUI, which prevented me from working in my profession. I am a truck driver by trade. I became homeless. Living in the streets of Chicago during the winter was rough. The days were filled with uncertainty and hunger. I didn’t know what the future would hold for me.”

Ezra—“Being in the cold in Washington state during the winter without shelter was very difficult. My resources were very limited, if any at all, I had no family because I am an orphan. It was so hard, and I felt alone. This will be my first winter in Chicago, and I know how cold it can get here, so I am so grateful I have a safe, warm place for the winter. I can now focus on my schooling and don’t have to worry if the cold will get to me.”

Steven—“Winter in Chicago is difficult because most of the locations I can go to for warmth can be dangerous. I would have to ride the trains many nights to stay warm with the fear of getting jumped on or beat up. The need to be warm would override my fear and I would have to ride the trains, putting myself at risk. You never really get a good night’s rest when you are fearing for your safety.”

Anonymous—“I was never homeless in Chicago. But I was homeless in smaller cities across Illinois. The difficulty for me was there are few or no homeless shelters in smaller cities. I would have to sleep in all sorts of spots just to get out of the cold. I would spend the day scouting areas like empty houses for rent or sale, garages, department stores, restaurants, and even a conference center one night. I had to sneak into all these locations, and if I got caught, I would be charged with trespassing. The most difficult part about being homeless in the winter is making the decision to do things that are illegal just to stay warm. The worst part is once you get frostbite, your fingers hurt with the slightest bit of cold.”

Thank you for making it possible for those outside to have a warm, Christ-centered facility in the heart of the city.