Bailey Pratt, LSW
Lead Case Manager, Scarborough Police Department
“We recently utilized Furniture Friends to support a community member that was transitioning from being unhoused for decades to permanent housing in the form of a small apartment. He had very limited funds to work with, and none of those funds were available to be utilized to furnish his space. He was going to be content to just sleep on his floor and wait for donated items as they came along, but we suggested a referral to Furniture Friends. He had no transportation of his own to obtain items, but with some creative coordination, we were able to get him to the warehouse, and he not only quickly got items for his new space upon moving in but was able to actually hand-pick which items called to him.
I've been working with this individual for years and to see the sense of independence and dignity being given back to him was truly amazing.
Within a week he went from completely unhoused, to a fully furnished apartment that felt like ‘home.’ His favorite selection was a moveable kitchen island that gives him additional space to cook and bake, something he hasn’t been able to truly do for himself in the years he spent outside.
Furniture Friends was wonderful to collaborate with, and the staff that met us when we arrived with him to select his items were so helpful in anticipating needs and helping us load them into our transport vehicle that was available to us for this client. Many of our clients dream of the day they are able to move into permanent housing, and it’s often not at the top of their list of concerns on how they will furnish their space once they get there. Having an option to make this possible with little stress is very helpful and truly appreciated by many providers.”
Your donations make these profound moments possible. Please consider a one-time or recurring gift this holiday season to help us ensure that more neighbors have access to the comforts of furniture to bring dignity and hope back into their lives.