Furniture Bank for Homeless to Open Dec. 17
Please note: This article is published as an archive copy from Philadelphia City Paper. My City Paper is not affiliated with Philadelphia City Paper. Philadelphia City Paper was an alternative weekly newspaper in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The last edition was published on October 8, 2015.
Formerly homeless people can get free furniture for their new dwellings thanks to a new program that opens on Dec. 17.
The Philadelphia Furniture Bank, the city's first to supply furniture free of charge to people moving off the streets, will work with clients who have been pre-approved by the public or private social-service agencies that are caring for them.
Clients such as refugees, victims of domestic violence or those with mental illness or addiction problems, will be able to visit the bank's new 20,000-square-foot warehouse in Kensington where they can choose furniture including beds, couches, and kitchen tables.
Clients can make their own arrangements to have the furniture delivered to their new homes, or it will be trucked, for a fee, by Furniture Bank staff.
The Furniture Bank, modeled on similar operations in other cities, is sponsored by Pathways to Housing, a national nonprofit that houses people directly from the streets, and is supported by groups including the Barra Foundation, the City of Philadelphia, Diamond Furniture, and the Sheller Family Foundation.
"Without furniture, it's nearly impossible to create a stable, welcoming home environment," said Jessie Marushak, director of development for Pathways to Housing."Families stay in shelters longer, waiting for furniture so they can move into homes."
The furniture that will be distributed to formerly homeless people has been donated from a variety of sources including individuals, businesses, hotels and by Temple University, Marushak said.
Philadelphia Furniture Bank is at 3412 J Street, Lower Level, Philadelphia, PA 19134.
