Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Veterans Matter
Veterans Matter is an innovative cloud-based rapid-response system – partnered with the VA’s Homeless Veterans program (HUD/VASH) – which allows the homeless veteran to get housed in literally minutes rather than the 30 to 60 days normally required to obtain the deposit.
Tent City
Started in 1990, our annual Tent City brings the entire community together to provide solutions, 1 at a time. We provide medical, dental, food, clothing, the return to housing, and other services to those in need, 1 at a time. Each person truly connects with another, with new opportunities and perspectives, to create mutual accomplishment.
Where we work
External reviews

Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of homeless participants engaged in housing services
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Veterans Matter
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Program success is measured by one outcome, veterans housed. This outcome is measured daily and results can be found daily on the Veterans Matter website.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
With dignity first, to return individuals and families with children to domestic and financial autonomy.
Removing the deposit barrier magnifies the impact/value of the intervention strategy by facilitating opportunity for immediate connection to additional services through Veterans Matter, the VA social and employment workers nationwide, while leveraging the capacity and resources of the local community collaborators.
According to HUD's VASH assessment, “Hands down, the most common obstacle faced by Veterans during the lease-up process as described by HUD-VASH sites is a lack of funds for security deposits and other move-in costs."
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Currently rental deposits are not readily available due to an unhoused veteran's limited employment or patchwork of local and federal resources with limited funding. Homeless veterans are sometimes forced to beg for the deposits from churches, VFW's, and the like. In major cities, it often requires multiple agencies and appointments, numerous applications/case managers/housing plans to get approved, then an additional 2 – 6 weeks to process and send the deposit. This lengthy process depletes the homeless veteran's phone minutes, bus tokens, and ultimately extends the time they are forced to sleep in a box, abandoned building, on the street, or in a shelter.
The rental deposits are often the only obstacle preventing vets from entering the ready long-term housing. We eliminate this last barrier and help them over the threshold in literally minutes.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
We think we have created a program that most foundations would seek to fund: An out of the box, game-changing, proven, effective program with very low program costs as overhead costs are donated in kind.
Veterans Matter, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), leverages evidence-based practices like Housing First and the federal resources of HUD-VASH (the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing voucher program) to get veterans off the street and into stable housing as quickly as possible.
Once stabilized in long-term housing, case managers help the veteran manage all chronic health and/or mental issues, addictions, or other issues causing the chronic homelessness. According to HUD, the HUD-VASH program has a remarkably high 91% success rate in keeping veterans housed at least one year.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
We go where needed most. We find the most neglected veterans in the most neglected areas. Yes, we have housed over 1,350 veterans, but that is ONLY 1,350. We can do five times that if we have the funds to deploy. Our Advocates are now raising money and awareness to house 2,000 more veterans this year.
Veterans Matter is the result of collaborative innovation integrating technology, housing and the community, with the medical, mental and employment help provided by the VA that creates evidence-based results for our heroes in need: Returning them to domestic autonomy. Our mission is simple, house as many homeless veterans as we can, as fast as we can.
In late 2016 Veterans Matter and the VA Secretary signed a Memorandum of Agreement in order to expand each of these system level programs.
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
1MATTERS
Board of directorsas of 05/11/2020
Sheri Henderson
KO Supply - Houston
Dan Rogers
Cherry Street Missin Ministries
Harry Sandler
Harry Sandler Productions
Bob Merlis
MFH Inc.
Majida Mourad
Cheniere Energy
Steve North
Lifeline Ministries
Norma Leslie
Mercy Health Partners
Gary Fruchtman
Worldbridge Partners
Mark LaCour
modalpoint
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes