Friends of the Night People Helping the homeless since 1969

BY ASHLEY ZIOMEK

In the 1960s, downtown Buffalo’s Chippewa Street was known as the red light district. Full of bars, cheap hotels, and sex workers, the area had a reputation for trouble. But out of necessity comes innovation. In 1969, Friends of Night People (FONP) was established to provide safety and solace for red-light wanderers. “[FONP was] set up by pastors who were tending to people once bars closed on Chippewa,” says Joseph Heary, FONP member for more than fifteen years and current executive director. “They would serve coffee and chat with people.”