WELCOMING HOME FURNISHES LIVING SPACES

   Welcoming Home, a nonprofit that helps individuals and families who are transitioning out of homelessness and poverty by fully furnishing and equipping their new homes, has been turning empty apartments into furnished and outfitted homes for the last eight years. In the last year alone, the group has fully furnished 26 homes in Marin County and 18 in Sonoma County.

   Referrals for assistance come from local social service agencies, like North Marin Community Services, Homeward Bound and the Marin Housing Authority. Welcoming Home volunteers visit each family or individual, measure the space and talk with the residents about their needs and preferences. Within about three days of the visit, “starter kits” are delivered, consisting of new mattresses, bed frames and box springs; new linens, towels and pillows; matching sets of dining and silverware, and more.

   The kits are intended to provide the basic necessities, while the organization focuses on getting all the rest of the needed items — sending out the list of items needed on NextDoor and to previous donors. Welcoming Home also maintains a virtual inventory,  where prospective donors post photos and measurements of available furnishings (donors can upload photos to welcominghome.org/donate-goods ). 

   “What we need most right now are organizations, businesses or groups of friends who will sponsor a welcoming — to cover the cost of new beds, movers and ‘starter kits,’” said Welcoming Home co-founder Marsha Roberts. “We’ll do all the work and turn an empty apartment into a real home.”

   For more information about Welcoming Home, visit welcominghome.org or contact info@welcominghome.org.