TOLEDO — More than 1,200 individuals were helped at 1Matters‘ Tent City event last month, the nonprofit reported, as the annual weekend of services returned to downtown Toledo.

Held the weekend of Oct. 17 in downtown Toledo, the event had 566 households representing 1,269 individuals registered, organizers said. That figure included 862 adults and 407 children, according to The Blade, which reported the results on Nov. 4, 2026.

Single individuals represented 44 percent of households, while families represented 30 percent, organizers said. Couples and households with three or more adults made up the remainder.

Behind the totals were hundreds of individual acts of help. Among the 566 households, organizers assisted with 106 birth certificate cases, performed medical services in 113 cases, provided hair services in 102 cases, and provided clothing in 500 cases.

About half of the guests reported having a disability, while 99 guests reported living unsheltered. No income was reported coming from 45 percent of households.

“These numbers represent more than statistics,” Mike Clark, a 1Matters board member, said in a statement. “They represent individuals and families in our community who continue to face challenges related to housing, income, disabilities, and access to basic necessities. Tent City continues to provide an opportunity to connect our neighbors with essential services and resources.”

A weekend built around meeting basic needs

Tent City is an annual weekend event offering medical and dental care, food, clothing, housing help, critical documents, haircuts, and veterans services. It was started in 1990 by Ken Leslie, formerly homeless himself, and is run by 1Matters.

The event has become a fixture of the fall in Toledo, drawing people together for a weekend focused on practical help and human connection. Last year’s event likewise brought the community together downtown, as 13abc reported in 2025.

This fall’s Tent City had a notable kickoff. John Mellencamp was Honorary Mayor and Grand Marshal for Tent City 2026, kicking it off with the Veterans Matter Walk to End Veteran Homelessness before his Oct. 21 concert at the Stranahan.

For the people who registered — 862 adults and 407 children — the weekend was a chance to get help with the documents, care, clothing, and housing connections that can be difficult to reach on an ordinary day. For the organizers and volunteers who staffed it, the numbers released this week are a measure of how much need remains in the community, and how many neighbors showed up to meet it.

More information about the organization behind Tent City is available at 1Matters.org.

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