Save the date for Tent City 2013 - and please consider joining in the planning!
The streets of our nation have become the enemy lines behind which our veterans are abandoned. HUD says over 60,000 veterans are unhoused on our streets. We must take care of our own. Veterans Matter is a brilliantly simple solution that's filling a gap in immediately getting our unhoused vets off the streets and in housing.
Join the movement to matter to more and more people! Your donation is matched with hundreds of volunteer hours, life-changing programs, effective solutions for helping people help themselves back into domestic autonomy. Thank you for supporting ... thank you for mattering!

MISSION

Mission: With dignity first, to return individuals and families with children to domestic autonomy.

UT 1Matters team bracelets

The founding inspiration for 1Matters.org was a visit John Mellencamp made to the Toledo Homeless Awareness Project, Tent City on November 2nd, 2007.

John gave Tent City founder Ken Leslie 60 tickets to his concert that evening to give to the unhoused Tent City guest. One gentleman returned from the concert and said, “Ken, John actually talked to us from the stage. I guess I really DO matter.”

Here was a human being who questioned whether or not he mattered? How in God’s wonderful world can anyone not know they matter?

1Matters was born.

This revelation produces the primary principle behind 1Matters: Every 1 really DOES Matter.... will you?

We hope you will join us!

GLOBAL AWARENESS

With the help of John Mellencamp, Dusty Hill of ZZ Top, local favorite Crystal Bowersox, and a growing cadre of artists and others in the music industry, 1Matters is building global awareness for World Homeless Action Day, our Veterans Matter and national "60,000 Soldiers" campaign, and spreading the word how you can matter too!

For more artist and 1Matters videos visit our PSA and Videos page.

GET INVOLVED: Ways to Matter!

There are several ways to get involved.

#1: Stay informed by signing up for email updates, subscribe to our RSS feed, or visit our Facebook page for the latest information.

#2: Show up to a Tent City planning meeting or one of our service projects and chat up any of the 1Matters volun-cheers.

#3: Donate online or mail a donation to support and help us expand our programs.

#4: Contact us to volunteer for Tent City, volunteer in the office, hold a clothing drive or fund raiser for Tent City, or any other way to join 300 other really cool, really awesome volunteers who just want to Matter to those who matter. Whether time, influence, knowledge, leadership, prayers, or even just a smile, your gifts will help make our efforts even more effective.

Returning people to domestic autonomy with dignity, 1 at a time.

By leveraging compassion through collaboration, individuals and families with children are returning to domestic autonomy with dignity, 1 at a time. It’s how we do things.

We value hard work, because we know it’s the only way any 1 can change their circumstances. We also value 1-on-1 relationships that break down stereotypes and build community. We start stuff. We fund stuff. And we have a lot of fun doing it. Join us – YOU MATTER!