A grant awarded to a local non-profit will help provide more furniture to those in need.
The Ontario Trillium Foundation has provided a $75,000 seed grant to Habitat For Humanity Windsor-Essex, for the purpose of reinstating a furniture bank that had ended. Local MPPs Percy Hatfield of Windsor-Tecumseh and Windsor West's Lisa Gretzky helped present the grant Friday morning at Habitat's Windsor ReStore.
With a furniture bank back in place thanks to this money, Habitat's executive director Fiona Coughlin said it will help further a successful system that is already in place.
"The funding will help us offset the cost of picking up more furniture," said Coughlin. "Our partners will be referring all their furniture donations through Habitat For Humanity's ReStore, and we'll be doing all the pickups to ensure that people in need will be able to access furniture."
Habitat will be partnering with Matthew House, a short-term residence for refugee claimants; and the Downtown Windsor Community Collarborative to help repair and deliver furniture to those less fortunate, along with those who are newcomers to Canada. Coughlin said even though these clients may have a roof over their heads, they're often sleeping, storing their clothes or sitting on the floor. She added that the seed money will be passed on to their partners in a "pay it forward" system, giving clients gift cards to choose furniture at the ReStore.
The furniture bank was first put in place three years ago to help an influx of Syrian refugees who were settling in Windsor-Essex. Coughlin said the bank was more successful than anticipated, helping about 500 families, but when the bank lost its free space, it closed.
"We were sad to see it go," said Coughlin. "When I started at Habitat I thought 'There's a way. We can do this. Let's come together and make it work.'"
Habitat For Humanity hopes to add more partnerships this year, with a goal to help 1,500 people by September 2019.
Residents can learn how to donate furniture and volunteer by visiting the official Habitat Windsor website.
