Veterans Matter has passed a remarkable milestone. Last week, the local nonprofit that works to help homeless veterans get into homes briefly paused to celebrate that it had helped house more than 2,000 veterans.

Since 2012, the group led by local homeless advocate Ken Leslie has aimed to get veterans off the street with a straightforward strategy: Veterans Matter provides first month’s rent and a security deposit for homeless veterans already on their way toward permanent housing through existing Veterans Affairs programs.

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Mr. Leslie’s group began its efforts after noting that, while the VA helps veterans get the Section 8 housing vouchers that will make rent affordable to many, the lack of a security deposit and first-month’s rent upfront rendered those vouchers useless to too many homeless vets.

Veterans Matter is a veterans-specific offshoot of another group founded by Mr. Leslie, 1matters.org, which is a general advocacy group for the homeless.

Mr. Leslie, who was once homeless himself, understands the struggles of homeless people firsthand and has become a tireless and effective advocate in the Toledo area and in more than a dozen states where Veterans Matter now operates.

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Mr. Leslie said the Veterans Matter staff stopped only briefly to note the 2,000-veteran mark with high fives. They had to get right back to work, he said, “because there’s 39,000 more veterans that need our help.”

It is sad commentary on the state of America’s veterans that Veterans Matters can so quickly find vets in need of their help. It is heartening to know that Mr. Leslie’s mission can be so effective.

To donate money or time, visit the group’s website at veteransmatter.org/​called.

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First Published March 14, 2018, 9:15 p.m.