Georgie Smith, founder of the nonprofit A Sense of Home, is working to combat what she calls "furniture poverty," the lack of essential household items that contributes to homelessness among former foster youth. Smith argues that the inability to furnish a home can lead to tenancy failure, a critical, often overlooked factor in the cycle of homelessness.
According to the National Foster Youth Institute, 50% of individuals experiencing homelessness have spent time in foster care. Roughly 25% of former foster youth face homelessness within four years of aging out of the system. Furniture banks nationwide report that individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness are their primary service groups, highlighting the direct link between a lack of furnishings and housing instability.
A Sense of Home, founded by Smith, has provided furnishings for over 2,000 homes for former foster youth in Los Angeles County, serving more than 3,100 individuals since its inception. The program reports that 94% of participants remain housed one year after joining, with 80% maintaining their tenancy after four years. Smith emphasizes the program's long-term commitment, stating, "There’s no aging out of A Sense of Home," noting that many participants return as volunteers or even join the organization's staff.
In 2024, A Sense of Home formalized its efforts through an exclusive partnership with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) in Los Angeles. This collaboration, part of the Foster Youth to Independence Housing Voucher program, facilitates direct referrals of youth transitioning out of foster care to the organization. This partnership has led to over 100 referrals, a development Smith views as a significant achievement, recognizing DCFS's acknowledgment of the need for support before youth exit the system.
Informed by its work with young people experiencing housing instability, A Sense of Home launched a disaster recovery program in response to the 2025 Los Angeles fires. This initiative has furnished over 782 homes, impacting 2,487 individuals. The organization projects it will have assisted 1,000 families in Altadena by the fall, representing approximately one-sixth of the population affected by the fires in that area.
Reflecting on the organization's first decade, Smith highlights the importance of community and collective action in finding solutions to complex social issues.