Toledo Streets

Toledo Streets is more than a newspaper. It’s a program, an opportunity, an investment, a movement, a dream, a megaphone, a bridge.

We’re a jobs program of 1Matters, (the non-profit—sparked and supported by singers John Mellencamp, Crystal Bowersox and others in the music industry—that organizes Tent City), to give the unhoused an opportunity to invest in their own lives instead of panhandling and let them dream beyond their circumstances, let their voice be heard, and let our community bridge the gap of economic difference and meet each other on the same side of valuing hard work. Launched October of 2009, Toledo Streets joined a worldwide collaboration of non-profit newspapers to benefit the unhoused who are trying to change their lives. Toledo Streets aims to empower the unhoused to participate in the community through microenterprise, job-training, and contributorship. Street papers give jobs to people who want to work.

JOBS! Jobs which assist individuals and families with children to reach financial autonomy and afford to get off the streets and into permanent housing. No handouts; each success is earned through hard work. As vendors, they buy the paper for a quarter and sell the paper at a $1.00 suggested donation.

We are seeking funding to cover the full-time launch of Toledo Streets. The modest $35,000 request will produce….

• At least 30 jobs which will dramatically reduce panhandling by redirecting compassion through this productive channel and provide positive esteem-building employment.
• Community Jewels of upbeat vendors committed to the Toledo Streets Code of Conduct which assures the individuals represent our community in a positive light.
• A large PR campaign to raise awareness of Toledo Streets vendors as a positive and productive alternative to panhandling, along with resources for the community to encourage panhandlers to become vendors.
• Partnerships with schools and universities, to offer a training ground of mutual education for students and the unhoused.
• A “Personal Trainer” to assist the vendors in developing and executing business and personal plans.
• Enforcement of city codes through a relationship with the Toledo Police Department.

We need your help to accomplish this.

Please consider investing, donating, subscribing, or purchasing advertising  to help us achieve our $35,000 goal. This will help us deploy our vendor program, our community network, and an excellent product.