Fresh Start Exposes Hidden Crisis: Furniture Poverty Affecting Thousands
- Alicia Hamilton
- Nov 17
- 3 min read
For Immediate Release
Aberdeen, MD — As Fresh Start Furnishings marks its 10th anniversary, the organization is drawing urgent attention to a growing yet largely overlooked crisis: furniture poverty. According to the U.S.-based Furnish Together coalition, furniture poverty is defined as “the inability to access, afford, or maintain essential household furniture and goods for a functional, safe, and healthy home.” They estimate that 66% of Americans will experience furniture poverty at some point in their lives, with 32% currently being affected.
Furnish Together reports that 99% of housing dollars fund the walls – not what goes inside. In Harford County, Maryland, this trend is evident, with just 0.54% of resources invested in local housing initiatives allocated to addressing furniture poverty.
Fresh Start Furnishings sees the consequences of this every day. Families and individuals moving out of homelessness, domestic violence, foster care, or sober-living may secure housing, but are left with empty rooms, sleeping and eating on the floor. For many, the absence of basic furnishings creates ongoing instability and prevents true recovery. According to the United Way of Central Maryland, there are more than 8,000 households living in extreme poverty and over 27,000 live paycheck-to-paycheck in Harford County, leaving little room to save for essentials like beds, dressers, or a kitchen table.
As the only furniture bank in Harford County, Fresh Start Furnishings received 574 applications for furniture assistance last year. Due to limited staffing, space, and funding, the organization was only able to serve 269 households. “The gap between the need and our capacity to meet it has been growing every year,” said Fresh Start Founder and Executive Director Alicia Hamilton. “Furniture poverty is far more widespread than most people realize, and it keeps families stuck. A furnished home isn’t a luxury. It’s a foundation for stability.”
Client experiences reinforce that message. One parent shared that receiving beds and other furniture allowed her children to return home from foster care after three years. Another reported improvements in sleep, mental health, daily functioning, and family connection.
Survey data from Fresh Start’s recipients further highlights the impact. 95% of clients report that their overall quality of life improved after receiving furniture. 90% say they feel more stable in their home. Nearly eight in ten report improvements in mental and physical health, and another 90% say their home is now more comfortable, peaceful, and functional for both adults and children.
Fresh Start Furnishings currently operates with just one employee, 71 active volunteers, and 3,500 square feet of space. Despite these limitations, the organization has furnished thousands of homes over the past decade. As it enters its 10th year, Fresh Start is launching its Decade of Making a Difference Campaign to expand staffing, warehouse capacity, and service delivery so more families can be served.
“Our goal is simple,” Hamilton said. “No one in Harford County should be living on the floor when so much usable furniture is being discarded every day. Furniture poverty is preventable, and with the community’s support, we can close the gap.”
The campaign aims to raise $15,000 to increase the number of households served by 40% over the next two years, divert more items away from the landfill and into local homes, and strengthen the Fresh Start Furniture Program to meet the growing need over the next decade.
For more information about furniture poverty, Fresh Start’s impact, or the Decade of Making a Difference Campaign, visit FreshStartMD.org/decade-of-difference-campaign.
About Fresh Start Furnishings:
Fresh Start Furnishings is Harford County’s only furniture bank, providing essential furniture and home goods for free to individuals and families transitioning from crisis. Since 2016, the organization has furnished thousands of homes through community donations and volunteer support. Fresh Start is committed to ensuring every household has the dignity, comfort, and stability that only a furnished home provides.
Media Contact:
Alicia Hamilton
443-519-2464 ext. 7
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