We Are
A volunteer based, veteran run 501(c)3 based in central Phoenix, AZ dedicated to assisting formerly homeless veterans to transition to permanent housing by providing them, free of charge, new furniture and household goods they need to make a home and return to society.
Our Mission
The VA does a great job of providing healthcare, temporary shelter, counseling, and moving homeless veterans into permanent housing, but they have no ability to provide furniture or household goods, which are basic needs of life. We often find the veteran sleeping on the floor in an empty apartment with no ability to perpare a meal or even make a cup of coffee..
Our mission is to help these men and women get back on their feet and become fully functioning members of society.
We provide them with what they need to make their apartment a home, giving them a new lease on life, and often making the difference betweena successful fresh start and a return to the street.
Our mission is to help these men and women get back on their feet and become fully functioning members of society.
We provide them with what they need to make their apartment a home, giving them a new lease on life, and often making the difference betweena successful fresh start and a return to the street.
A Record of Success
Since its founding in 2009, the Veterans Furniture Center has helped over 2,700 formerly veterans return to society. We are currently serving over 4-6 veterans a week, every week, 52 weeks of the year, our volunteers help 6-10 formerly homeless veterans by delivering the basic things they need to succeed in their new permanent housing.
Moving Forward
In the past the VFC was highly dependent on donated used furniture. As a result, we often didn’t have the full complement of furniture the veteran needed. Donated furniture was often not suitable for the small apartments available to eligible veterans. The furniture was either too large or not otherwise serviceable. Where possible, we sold the furniture we couldn’t use, but sometimes had to pay to dispose of it. As a result, we spent more time picking up and processing donated furniture than we did making deliveries, limiting our capacity to respond to increasing demands.
To address these issues, the VFC has transtioned to a new model based on carefully selected new donated and purchased furniture and goods to make up a standard kit that includes a full complement of bedroom and living room furniture; kitchenware, including dishes, cookware, and small appliances; linens, including sheets, towels and dish towels; and a hygiene kit. Through very selective purchasing, obtaining discounts and donations from retailers, and the support of our volunteers to assemble items, we are able to provide each transitioning veterans with a full complement of new furniture and household goods for under one thousand dollars.
This approach assures that every transitioning formerly homeless veteran we serve receives the full compliment of furniture and household goods they need to begin a new, productive life. Furthermore, new furniture and household goods have a larger psychological impact on the transitioning veteran’s self worth than receiving a limited set of someone else’s discards. By reducing the need to collect and process used furniture, the VFC capacity to help those in need is greatly increased, allowing us to respond to increasing demands. It also enhances operations by providing quantifiable and trackable inventory and costs.
The transition to the new model was completed in 2018 As an example, thanks to a generous donation-in-kind from Living Spaces, we are now able to guarantee everyone of our needy veterans a new, comfortable bed in which to sleep.
To address these issues, the VFC has transtioned to a new model based on carefully selected new donated and purchased furniture and goods to make up a standard kit that includes a full complement of bedroom and living room furniture; kitchenware, including dishes, cookware, and small appliances; linens, including sheets, towels and dish towels; and a hygiene kit. Through very selective purchasing, obtaining discounts and donations from retailers, and the support of our volunteers to assemble items, we are able to provide each transitioning veterans with a full complement of new furniture and household goods for under one thousand dollars.
This approach assures that every transitioning formerly homeless veteran we serve receives the full compliment of furniture and household goods they need to begin a new, productive life. Furthermore, new furniture and household goods have a larger psychological impact on the transitioning veteran’s self worth than receiving a limited set of someone else’s discards. By reducing the need to collect and process used furniture, the VFC capacity to help those in need is greatly increased, allowing us to respond to increasing demands. It also enhances operations by providing quantifiable and trackable inventory and costs.
The transition to the new model was completed in 2018 As an example, thanks to a generous donation-in-kind from Living Spaces, we are now able to guarantee everyone of our needy veterans a new, comfortable bed in which to sleep.
2019 will be a challanging year, and we need your financial support to continue our mission. We are a Qualified Charitable Organization and your donation may be eligible for a tax credit. (click here)
We making a difference in the lives of hundreds of men and women who have served our country and now need our help.
We making a difference in the lives of hundreds of men and women who have served our country and now need our help.
Please Join Us!
Ways you can help
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More Information
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