Special Edition Story
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Many of you know Zeny Stuart, a truly remarkable young woman who knows first hand what it means to be a veteran suffering from homelessness. This is Zeny's Story.
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‘Take cover!’ and ‘run to the bunkers!’, were commands I heard during my deployment in Taji, Iraq (’04-’05). While receiving incoming mortar attacks I would question ‘why is this happening?’. In a place where situational awareness was our watchword while donned in protective gear, weapon locked and loaded, I was trained to not only be on the lookout for problems but to react instinctively to any suspected threats in order to preserve and protect myself and those around me.
I survived Iraq, exited the Army and breathed a sigh of relief; I let my guard down. Unbeknownst to me at the time, the housing crisis was on the horizon. A series of events led to becoming a couch-surfer/homeless but the help of private citizens and community organizations kept me from sleeping on the streets.
Landing an apartment of my own a couple years later was exhilarating on one hand but it was the proverbial ‘three steps forward, two steps back’. With no furniture of my own I faced quite a dilemma. I had a roof over my head but nowhere to lay it; and food but no fridge. I had done everything society and my country had asked of me and wasn’t sure why I was going through all this turbulence.
I earned my Bachelor’s Degree, served in the U.S. Army, and was a case worker helping the homeless. As a 37 year-old double minority and former Army Veteran and Missile System Technician, being past my prime and having such a niche background didn’t exactly open doors for me. With very few personal resources available, the Veterans Furniture Center stepped in and saved me. To this day, I’m forever grateful to the Veterans Furniture Center as they not only were of service to me with their donation of furniture and household goods but they expedited my transition back into a productive life of helping the homeless and contributing back to my community as well. The Veterans Furniture Center never dwelled on the ‘why’ of the problem; in true military fashion they simply executed a solution. Since the VFC is all volunteer-run, this ensures the highest amount of each dollar benefits those they serve in this very unique niche. In the end, my faith was renewed in knowing that an organization like the Veterans Furniture Center had my back when I needed someone to ‘cover me while I move!’.
I survived Iraq, exited the Army and breathed a sigh of relief; I let my guard down. Unbeknownst to me at the time, the housing crisis was on the horizon. A series of events led to becoming a couch-surfer/homeless but the help of private citizens and community organizations kept me from sleeping on the streets.
Landing an apartment of my own a couple years later was exhilarating on one hand but it was the proverbial ‘three steps forward, two steps back’. With no furniture of my own I faced quite a dilemma. I had a roof over my head but nowhere to lay it; and food but no fridge. I had done everything society and my country had asked of me and wasn’t sure why I was going through all this turbulence.
I earned my Bachelor’s Degree, served in the U.S. Army, and was a case worker helping the homeless. As a 37 year-old double minority and former Army Veteran and Missile System Technician, being past my prime and having such a niche background didn’t exactly open doors for me. With very few personal resources available, the Veterans Furniture Center stepped in and saved me. To this day, I’m forever grateful to the Veterans Furniture Center as they not only were of service to me with their donation of furniture and household goods but they expedited my transition back into a productive life of helping the homeless and contributing back to my community as well. The Veterans Furniture Center never dwelled on the ‘why’ of the problem; in true military fashion they simply executed a solution. Since the VFC is all volunteer-run, this ensures the highest amount of each dollar benefits those they serve in this very unique niche. In the end, my faith was renewed in knowing that an organization like the Veterans Furniture Center had my back when I needed someone to ‘cover me while I move!’.
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The Veterans Furniture Center has Been Awarded the Guidstar Gold Seal of Transparancy for 2019
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Become a Friend of the VFC
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Join Us - Become a Friend of the VFC!Become a VFC Supporter for as little as $10 a month. It's easy, it's automatic, and your donations may be eligible for Arizona Tax Credits. (See Tax Credits for more information.)
Join us today! 
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Help Fight Veteran HomelessnessPrefer a one time donation?
Click below to see how you can help. AZ residents are eligible for tax credits of up to $800 per couple or $400 per individual. (See Tax Credits for more information.) 
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Need Help?Are you a formerly homeless veteran in the HUD-VASH program and in need of furniture and household goods? We would like to help you. To obtain our assistance, you MUST be referred by your case worker from the VA. If you don't have a case worker, please contact the VA at the address shown on the bottom of this page Please do not contact us directly as we will just refer you to the Veterans Administration.
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Latest Headlines
Crossfit Supports our needy Veterans
The Pheonix Metro Chamber of Commerce Supports the VFC
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On June 12, 2019 the Phoenix Metro Chamber of Commerce presented the VFC representatives with a check at a PMCC event in Scottsdale. This is in ADDITION to the check presented by their foundation last Friday (see below). The VFC is proud to be a member iof thsi great organization and looks forward to a long collaborative relationship
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The Phoenix Metro Chamber Foundation Support the VFC
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On June 7, 2019 the Phoenix Metro Chamber Foundation present the Veterans Furniture Center with a check in support of our needy veterans. The VFC is proud to be a member of the Phoenix Metro Chamber of Commerce and looks forward to a long and collaborative relationship with the PMCC and the PMCF.
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Living spaces Continues to deliver for Veterans
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May 16, 2019 – Living spaces delivered 193 brand new beds for our formerly homeless veterans. Three huge tractor trailers arrived at the warehouse early in the morning. VFC volunteers were joined by volunteers from Living Spaces and APS to unload the trucks and stack the beds in the warehouse.
Living Spaces has supported the Veterans Furniture Center since 2017. Thanks to their generous support, hundreds of veterans who were sleeping on the floor now have a bed to sleep in. This addition to our inventory will add 193 formerly homeless and destitute veterans to the long list helped by Living Spaces and the VFC. A special thanks to our volunteers, including Living Spaces and APS employees who helped unload the trucks in record time this morning. |
- Veterans Furniture Center donations now qualify for AZ tax credits.
- Arizona taxpayers may now qualify for up to $400 per individual or $800 per couple in tax credits on their Arizona Income Tax. Note that this a credit, not a deduction. You may subtract your donation from what you owe the State of Arizona on your annual tax return.
- Click here for information
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We have more videos and pictures in our video library. Click on More Videos above to explore.
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About the VFC
- The VFC is managed by an all-veteran volunteer Board of Directors.
- Our mission is to assist formerly homeless veterans transitioning to permanent housing by providing them, free of charge, the new furniture and household goods they need to make their apartment a home and successfully transition back to society.
- We service the greater Phoenix, Az. area
- We rely on volunteers -- veterans, active duty military, and other supporters -- to deliver furniture, as well as to staff the office and warehouse.
- We deliver furniture to veterans every single week, fifty-two weeks a year.
- Since 2009 the VFC has assisted over 2,900 formerly homeless veterans.
- We are currently delivering furniture & household goods to over 400 veterans a year.
We are making a Difference - You can Help
Used Furniture
The Veterans Furniture Center is no longer accepting any used furniture or household goods. We apologize for any inconvience this may cause, but we must focus on the needs of our formerly homeless veterans, who live in very small, one-three room apartments. Even the best quality donated items often were too big or unsuitable for their use, and much of what we received was unserviceable. We often had to pay to dispose of donated used items. To make matters worse, we often didn't have all of the items the veteran needed, putting them at risk of becoming homeless again.
To give our transitioning veterans a hand up in their efforts to become functioning members of society we now deliver a complete kit of new furniture and household goods specifically tailored to meet their needs. (Click here to see the description of the kit.) We appreciate those who donated in the past and hope that you will understand that we must focus on our mission of assisting transitioning veterans so that they may lead a successful life and not return to the street.
We especially appreciate the support of Living Spaces who is providing brand new beds for all of our needy veterans.
Thank you for your understanding. Please consider supporting us as we strive to reduce, and eventually end, veteran homelessness.
To give our transitioning veterans a hand up in their efforts to become functioning members of society we now deliver a complete kit of new furniture and household goods specifically tailored to meet their needs. (Click here to see the description of the kit.) We appreciate those who donated in the past and hope that you will understand that we must focus on our mission of assisting transitioning veterans so that they may lead a successful life and not return to the street.
We especially appreciate the support of Living Spaces who is providing brand new beds for all of our needy veterans.
Thank you for your understanding. Please consider supporting us as we strive to reduce, and eventually end, veteran homelessness.
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To Learn More, Watch our videos
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Need Help?
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Are you a formerly homeless veteran in the HUD-VASH program and in need of furniture and household goods? We would like to help you. To obtain our assistance, you MUST be referred by your case worker from the VA. If you don't have a case worker, please contact the VA at the address shown on the right. Please do not contact us directly as we will just refer you to the Veterans Administration.
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Phoenix Community Resource Referral Center
1500 East Thomas Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85014 (602) 248-6040 |
More Information
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