Those we serve include individuals or families facing an immediate crisis. Some are women and children leaving domestic violence shelters and establishing new households. Many have been homeless, victims of fire or are families with special needs such as mental or physical handicaps, child protective service cases, family reunification and foster parents.
We also provide furniture assistance to the working poor and those on fixed incomes such as seniors on social security. This population could not possibly afford new or used furnishings after paying for rent and food. Often these basic necessities account for over 75% of their income.
All of these families need the foundation of a home equipped with at least the bare essentials for living: a sofa to sit on, a table and chairs to eat at, beds to sleep in, and appliances to store and prepare food. No one should have to sleep on the floor, on a sofa, or sleep four to a bed. No one should have to store their food in coolers or attempt to cook meals on a hotplate. Families in poverty need their hierarchy of needs met before they can begin to take steps towards independence.