City of Austin

The City of Austin has begun a furniture donation program for Austin’s homeless veterans and their families.

The program is sponsored by Mayor Lee Leffingwell, a retired Navy veteran, and the City of Austin Veterans Affairs Office in partnership with AmeriCorps/VetCorps, Veterans Administration, and the Texas Vietnam Veterans Association.

The program, begun in September, provides home furnishings to chronically homeless veterans who are transitioning to permanent housing.

“One of my goals as Mayor is to help end homelessness for veterans and their families in Austin,” Leffingwell said.  “This program is one way we can lend a hand to those who have served our country.”

“This donation program will allow homeless veterans to concentrate on receiving health care, supportive services, education and job placement without having to worry about acquiring furniture for the housing units into which they are moving,” Leffingwell said.. 

In Austin, more than 200 veterans have been able to secure housing with vouchers provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.   Many times, a veteran moves into completely bare apartments and has to sleep on the floor.

Since its inception, the program already has provided several veterans with beds, kitchen tables and other furniture. 

City of Austin Veterans Consultant Allen Bergeron said this new program can play a key role in helping veterans feel comfortable in their new living quarters, setting them up to succeed in the transition from homelessness.

"It's about doing anything we can to help veterans from falling back into homelessness," he said.

The City of Austin welcomes donations of home furnishings, from silverware and lamps to bedroom or kitchen sets, as long as they are in good condition.  Anyone wishing to donate can contact Tina Lee via email or at 512-974-3306.