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, needed furniture and household goods.
Our Mission
The VA and our partner social service agencies do 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, which are basic needs of life. We often find the veteran sleeping on the floor in an empty apartment.
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.
housing, but they have no ability to provide furniture or household, which are basic needs of life. We often find the veteran sleeping on the floor in an empty apartment.
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 2,400 formerly veterans return to society. We are currently serving over 400 veterans a year.
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.
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
The VFC has been highly dependent on donated used furniture. As a result, we often don’t have the full compliment of furniture the veteran needs. Donated furniture is often not suitable for the small apartments available to eligible veterans. The furniture is either too large or not otherwise serviceable. Where possible, we sell the furniture we can’t use, using the proceeds to purchase new furniture better suited to our operation. As a result, we spend more time picking up and processing donated furniture than we do making deliveries, limiting our capacity to respond to increasing demands.
To address these issues, the VFC has begun the process of transitioning to a new model based on carefully selected purchased furniture and goods to make up a standard kit that includes a full compliment 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 new 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 is underway. 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 begun the process of transitioning to a new model based on carefully selected purchased furniture and goods to make up a standard kit that includes a full compliment 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 new 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 is underway. 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.
We are 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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