Question 1

What is a furniture bank?

Accepted Answer

Furniture banks prevent tens of thousands of pounds of furniture from ending up in landfills each year. Instead, this furniture is returned to the community, where it gets a second chance at life. Generous donors can feel confident knowing their furniture is being used by a family in need, rather than sitting in a landfill where it benefits no one. Why pay to have it discarded when you can support a social enterprise or make a financial donation to help cover transport costs? The choice is clear.

Question 2

Who do you help?

Accepted Answer

We partner directly with social agencies who have determined their clients are in need of furnishings, working with case managers to give their clients exactly what they need. We also frequently partner with Grateful Gatherings and Welcoming Home, who provide furniture and household items to people transitioning from homelessness or out of crisis. They help us connect new and gently used furnishing with individuals and families who need furniture, easing furniture poverty in the Bay Area.

Question 3

What is furniture poverty?

Accepted Answer

Any person or family without the financial means to make their empty housing into a furnished home is said to be living in furniture poverty.

Not having a bed to sleep on means a poor night’s sleep, affecting your ability to live, work and study. Not having a sofa to sit on means you can be unwilling to invite friends or support workers into your home.

Moving from a hostel into empty housing can lead to people giving up housing and returning to a shelter, because at least there they have a bed to sleep on. There are harmful physical, emotional, and financial consequences of furniture poverty.

Furniture poverty exists on a spectrum:

Furniture insecurity: A household has the items they need for now. If something essential breaks or needs replacing, they do not have the means to do so. These households are often moving from one crisis to another.

Furniture destitution: Where a household has none or very few of the basic items needed; a long-term, chronic situation.

Furniture poverty affects too many low-income people in the United States, many of which are formerly homeless, women and children escaping abusive situations, victims of natural disasters, and newcomer families and refugees.

Question 4

What types of items do you take?

Accepted Answer

If you are considering a donation, please fill out our donation form. We accept quality, gently used, and new home furnishings.
Items must be safe, clean, and functional and must be in ready-to-use condition, with all parts assembled.
Items must be free of rust, food residue and not chipped.
Upholstered items must be free of stains, tears and pet hair/odors, from a non-smoking and pet-free household.
Kitchen items must be clean and functional.
Please check our list of items that we cannot take due to the constraints of family living and small spaces that often lack elevator.
You can read more about the above detail on the Donate Stuff page of our site.

Question 5

How can I get my items to you?

Accepted Answer

If you cannot bring it to us yourself, we recommend several movers in the Bay Area here.

Please keep in mind that all pick-up services cost money, but this type of pick-up keeps your items out of landfill and goes on to help others. We are happy to provide a donation receipt for all items received.

Question 6

How can I get some furniture from you?

Accepted Answer

You must be referred by one of our agency partners or by your case manager or social worker. If you have a worker from a social service agency, please ask your worker if the organization is a Furniture Bank Partner.  If it is, your worker will let you know if you are eligible to receive a Furniture Bank Referral. We can also help your social worker become a partner if they are not already.