Toledo, Ohio, has a large population of homeless individuals and families, and our city works hard to serve them through community resources, meals, fundraising events, and preventative programs. Here are a few of the organizations making an impact in Toledo in 2020:

Hannah’s Socks is a community based non-profit organization dedicated to helping people affected by homelessness, poverty, and domestic abuse in Ohio and Southeast Michigan. The organization collects and donates new socks to those in need through shelter homes, public schools, and direct distribution.

“Helping to restore dignity one pair of socks at a time. Hannah’s Socks firmly believes that in a country as prosperous as the United States, no man, woman or child should want for something as basic as a warm pair of socks.”

The Sole Train is an annual event featuring fun, food, silent auctions, and dancing to support Hannah’s Socks.

“The community and media have been generous in their support of Hannah’s Socks. Sole Train is one more way that people can show their support for this wonderful and important organization,” commented Hannah’s Socks board member and Sole Train chair, Melanie Ogrodowski. “Sole Train is sure to be a fun and highly recognized event, but most importantly, raise money to help Hannah’s Socks provide more socks to the ever-growing number of needy families in our community,” she continued. (Read more about Sole Train 2020.)

Hannah’s Socks donated 645 pairs of sock – February 5, 2020, SeaGate Food Bank

Toth Elementary School duo collects over 3,000 pairs of socks to donate to homeless – February 12, 2020, NBC 24

1Matters.org began in 1990 as the Homeless Awareness Project (HAP), founded by Ken Leslie, then a national stand-up comedian. Having been homeless himself, Ken was determined to help homeless children in Toledo.

“In 2007 HAP became 1Matters after a visit by singer John Mellencamp to our annual Tent City event. John was moved by the community collaboration and invited all the guests to his concert that evening where he talked with them from the stage. One guest returned to Tent City after the show and told Ken, ‘Ken, John talked to us from the stage, I guess I really do matter.’” (Read more about the History of 1Matters.org.)

MISSION: To use Community Collaboration Leverage to deliver the community’s compassion and hope to the unhoused on the streets.

“Started in 1990, the annual Tent City event brings the entire community together to provide solutions. This has evolved into a weekend-long festival where volunteers provide medical, dental, food, clothing, employment, the return to housing, critical documents, haircuts, and other services to those in need. Whether volunteer or guest, each person truly connects with another, with new opportunities and perspectives, to create mutual accomplishment.” ( Tent City 2020 )

MISSION: House as many homeless veterans nationally as we can, as fast as we can by uniting those who care about veterans on the streets.

“We partner with the VA homeless program social workers who help the veterans find appropriate housing and secure their long term HUD VASH housing voucher. When the housing has been inspected and veteran is ready to sign the lease, if the veterans has nowhere else to find it, the VA social workers access our on-line system and complete the short referral form requesting the deposit, and hit send.

All conforming referrals are immediately approved and minutes later the social worker and landlord receive an email confirmation approving the deposit amount and the check is mailed the same business day.” ( VeteransMatter.org )

Money raised goes towards finding housing for homeless veterans. Representatives with the organization said it only takes about $750 to get a veteran into an apartment. So far, it’s housed about 3,000 veterans nationally. ( Toledo’s ‘Tent City’ provides hope to the homeless )

Toledo’s ‘Tent City’ provides hope to the homeless – October 16, 2019 WTOL

Tent City pops up in downtown Toledo to help homeless community – October 19, 2018, NBC 24

Food For Thought (FFT) began in May of 2007 as a group to feed the hungry. The organization works to “identify and address barriers to food insecurity in our community, provide service to our patrons in a thoughtful and dignified manner, and give people the opportunity to serve and make an impact in their community.” ( www.FeedToledo.org )

Jam City is FFT’s annual Gourmet PB&J Party. The event features PB&J-inspired dishes from local chefs and brewers, in addition to auction items, photo booths, music, “Best of” Awards, and much more. ( https://jamcity.feedtoledo.org/ )

FFT’s Mobile Pantries carry both shelf-stable and fresh food choices to those experiencing food insecurity and do not have ready access to a pantry in their neighborhood. We visit multiple partner sites every month. Patrons only need to present a photo ID to receive service. (Learn more about FFT’s mobile food pantries in Toledo.)

After-School All-Stars (ASAS) provides comprehensive after-school programs that keep children safe and help them succeed in school and in life. ASAS serves over 72,000 low-income, at-risk youth in Title One schools in 42 cities across the country.

Visit http://asasohio.org/ for more information.

Students currently enrolled in one of the following Toledo Public Schools are eligible to enroll in the After-School All-Stars Ohio program. Registration forms are available in each school’s main office. Space is limited.

Go to http://asasohio.org/about-us/locations/asas-toledo/ for more information, including contact information for each school’s ASAS Coordinator.

TikTok awards grant to After-School All-Stars Ohio for relief toward students’ families June 10, 2020, NBC 24

“The Department of Neighborhoods provides and assists with the development of quality affordable housing, collaborates with community partners to support quality of life initiatives and programs. We strive for code compliance on properties in our community and work to eliminate blight affecting our neighborhoods.” (Learn more at Toledo.gov )

Each year, Department of Neighborhoods Toledo hosts a holiday turkey dinner for homeless and less fortunate people throughout the city.

“All of the shelters and feeding programs provided all the side dishes,” Department of Neighborhood and Business Development’s Bonita Bonds said, “and we provide the hams and turkeys.” ( Turkey dinner served to hundreds at 22nd Annual Homeless Luncheon )

In addition to food, Paul Mitchell The School provided free haircuts and manicures, and a mobile health clinic gave health screenings.

Toledo, Ohio, is home to several emergency homeless shelters and housing programs. The following is a list of those organizations currently operating in 2020:

Please call 2-1-1 if you are homeless and need shelter. Intakes for Toledo’s homeless shelters are processed through the United Way. For immediate assistance, please dial 2-1-1 from any landline or 1-800-650-HELP to connect with an information and referral specialist.

Leading Families Home is a 501(c)3 charity based in Toledo, Ohio. LFH provides resources to support homeless families as they transition to permanent housing.

Housing Stabilization – LFH offers emergency shelter and housing through Beach House Family Shelter, Rapid Re-Housing and Permanent Supportive Housing.

Economic Stabilization – LFH offers employment and vocational training, and SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR).

Mental Wellness Stabilization – Real-Time Trauma Informed Care, Crisis Prevention Intervention and clinical services through Steps to Health.

Leading Veterans Home – LFH contracts with the Veterans Administration to provide immediate shelter and expedite permanent housing placement for veterans and their families.

Catholic Charities serves the homeless community of Lucas County and Toledo in many ways, including shelter, permanent supportive housing, and programs.

La Posada – Catholic Charities’ homeless shelter offering emergency housing to Toledo-area families.

Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) – A program to assist in finding housing for Lucas County homeless individuals and families with disabilities.

Tenant Readiness – A program created to help Lucas County landlords and tenants by preparing tenants to manage a household for before they sign a lease.

Cherry Street serves people in need by cooking them meals, emergency shelter, and encouraging hope to the homeless of Toledo.

Life Revitalization Center – Supportive services and resources are offered at the former Macomber High School.

Mac Street Cafe – Meals are served daily at Mac Street Cafe, located inside the Life Revitalization Center.

The Sparrow’s Nest – Solutions for homeless single women.

Family House is a non-profit agency dedicated to keeping families together in time of crisis. Family House offers a variety of family-centered programs and services.

Resident Programs – Family House provides shelter, food, and basic needs to Toledo’s homeless in a secured, drug/alcohol/weapon-free facility.

Emergency Shelter – Individuals and families can find emergency shelter from domestic violence, homelessness, or natural disasters.

Family House Kitchen – A fully licensed kitchen that provides home-cooked meals during the week.

Clothing Closet – Clothing for residents provided by community donations.

Educational Programs – Focusing on health and financial education.

The Shelter – A 35-bed facility offering food, shelter, basic needs, and case management to residents who are 90% mentally disabled.

Payee Programs – A homeless prevention program for Lucas County residents who live independently with mental or physical disabilities.

Winter Crisis Program – St. Paul’s opens its shelter doors on the coldest nights of the winter, and offers dinner, breakfast, hot showers, and clothing.

TGRM helps restore, rebuild, and support Lucas County residents in need through shelters, meals, clothing, and programs.

Men’s Shelter – Night-to-night shelter for homeless men over the age of eighteen.

Rebekah’s Haven – A shelter for homeless mothers with young children.

Outreach Center – Community-wide free meals are offered at TGRM’s Outreach Center each Saturday (except the second Saturday of each month) at 6pm.

TASC stands for Treatment Accountability for Safer Communities and offers programs for those dealing with addiction and who are involved in the criminal justice system. The program includes assessment, treatment or referral to treatment, case management, and monitoring and reporting services.

NAOMI (New Attitude on My Image) is a non-profit organization located in Toledo. It provides shelter, support, and beneficial services for women who wish to overcome alcohol and substance abuse. NAOMI helps clients recover, reunite with their families and children, and find employment and permanent housing.

COHHIO is a coalition of organizations and individuals committed to ending homelessness and to promoting decent, safe, fair, affordable housing for all, with a focus on assisting low-income and special needs populations.

COHHIO offers a range of programs and services that help keep local providers current on new developments in the fields of homelessness and housing.

TLCHB is the governing body of the Toledo Lucas County Continuum of Care.

Mission – To provide leadership for the elimination of homelessness in Lucas County.

Primary Function – To plan and oversee a coordinated response to homelessness in Toledo and Lucas County.

Vision – To find housing for all Toledo and Lucas County residents who wish to live in safe, affordable, permanent housing.

Connect with Leading Families Home on social media to see the latest stories from our Participants, Board Members, Staff, and Volunteers!

You can support Leading Families Home by liking or following our accounts, liking and SHARING them on your social media accounts. Invite your contacts to like or follow us, too! Let’s spread the word, and end homelessness in Toledo!

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube