The Need for the Chicago Furniture Bank
When families leave shelters and move into permanent housing they do not have many, if any, belongings. Every person should be able to sleep on a bed, share a meal at a table, and do homework on a desk. At the very least, furniture poverty affects one’s quality of life; at worst, it becomes a contributing factor to social exclusion, physical and mental distress, and a return to homelessness.
The agencies that find housing do not have the resources to provide furnishings resulting in families living in empty spaces for extended periods of time or even indefinitely. That’s where the Chicago Furniture Bank comes in.
BEFORE
AFTER
Furniture Poverty
FOUR WALLS DON’T MAKE A HOME
It has been found that living with furniture can greatly increase home retention rates compared to people living in an empty space.
Around 12.2 million tons of furniture ends up in landfills each year. The Chicago Furniture Bank serves as an intermediary between those who have furniture and those who don’t.
We estimate at least 5,000 households (12,500 people) in Chicagoland live in furniture poverty and need the Chicago Furniture Bank’s service each year.
What We Do
Through partnerships with 400+ social service agencies around Chicagoland, the Chicago Furniture Bank furnishes around 15 homes per day for clients referred by our nonprofit partners. With a 10,000 SQFT showroom and delivery options, we allow our clients’ transition into a new chapter in their lives to be comfortable, smooth, and easy, increasing their stability!
