Salinas Introduces Legislation to Provide Home Furnishings for Families in Need

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06) introduced the Housing to Homes Act, legislation that would support community furniture banks and deliver home furnishings for families that are transitioning out of homelessness and into permanent housing.

“The holiday season is all about giving back to those in need. One way we can do that is by ensuring more folks have a safe, stable, and comfortable place to live,” said Rep. Salinas. “Furniture banks provide recently housed families with the basic essentials – everything from mattresses to pots and pans – that they need to get back on their feet. My Housing to Homes Act would deliver federal support for furniture banks so that they can continue to do their important work, putting more families on the path to stability and self-sufficiency.”

Furniture banks collect donated furniture and household essentials, working in coordination with housing and homelessness assistance organizations to distribute these items to eligible families. According to the Furniture Bank Network, there are 114 furniture banks in the United States and two in Oregon. The Housing to Homes Act would amend the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to explicitly allow payment to furniture banks for the costs of delivery, installation, and assembly of household furnishings as an eligible use of funding under the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s largest homelessness assistance program, the Continuum of Care Program. 

Specifically, the legislation would: 

• Define “Furniture Bank” as a registered charity, non-profit, or social enterprise that provides household furnishings to individuals and families in need at little to no cost.
• Specify that furnishings provided under this provision shall become the sole property of the homeless individual or family receiving them.
• Require the Secretary of HUD to report to Congress on the effectiveness of the program.

The Housing to Homes Act is endorsed by Community Warehouse, a furniture bank with locations in Tigard, Gresham, and Portland that has been serving the Metro area for over 20 years.

"The introduction of this bill is a crucial step in recognizing the vital role furniture banks play in helping our neighbors transition from homelessness,” said Anna Kurnizki, Executive Director of Community Warehouse. “Furnishing a home is not a luxury—it's a necessity. A bed to sleep on, a table to share meals, and a chair to sit on are essential components of a stable, healthy, and hopeful environment. Without these essentials, a housing unit can feel empty and temporary, and the risk of returning to homelessness remains all too real. We're deeply grateful to Congresswoman Salinas for championing this bill to support people on their path to stability."

To read the full text of this legislation, click here.

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