Hearts to Homes

At Hearts to Homes, our core mission is to empower individuals aging out of foster care by transforming empty living spaces into a place they can call home.

We provide essential furnishings and a sense of comfort to those in need, ensuring that young adults who are transitioning out of the foster care system have the support they deserve as they embark on their journey of independence.

By working to create a more comfortable living environment we can increase the stability of those who age out of the system while acting as a barrier to homelessness, incarceration, and multi-generational foster care involvement; all issues that affect the aging-out population. We aim to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve, one home at a time.

Hearts to Homes Furnishings, Inc. is a New York-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Donations to Hearts to Homes are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Who do we help?

Hearts to Homes does not take applications for assistance from individual young adults, but instead partners with the finest child welfare advocacy organizations in New York City, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Nassau and Suffolk counties in order to assist young adults who are aging out.

We rely on these organizations to nominate qualified young adults who are aging out of foster care and:

are at least 18 years old and,
are residents of NYC, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Nassau and Suffolk counties and
have earned a high school diploma or have completed two parts of their GED or
are employed youth without regard to their educational credentials or
are pregnant and/or custodial parents without regard to their educational credentials or
have worked with a Fair Futures coach for six months prior to aging out, without regard to their educational, employment or parenting status.

These referring partners provide programs and supportive services that help to ensure that each young adult is prepared for independence. The benefits provided by Hearts to Homes complement these existing support programs. Together, we improve the odds of a successful transition from foster care to independence.

Although we provide items that are needed only by young adults who are aging out of foster care, the assistance that Hearts to Homes provides has indirectly benefited over 244 infants, toddlers and young children whose homes we have helped furnish. Nearly one-third of the young adults who are referred to us age out of foster care as parents. Hearts to Homes provides necessary support to these young parents, helping them create a safe family home.

Read testimonials from our young adults

Why do we help?

Hundreds of young adults age out of foster care into independent living in New York City, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Nassau and Suffolk counties each year. Generally, these young adults are 18 to 21 years of age who have never been successfully reunited with their parents or adopted. Many of these young adults leave foster care with few possessions and no family to help them make this transition. For a young adult who is aging out of foster care, a first apartment is expensive and requires a great deal of effort to put together. Both can be roadblocks for a successful transition and a productive life.

Sometimes, governmental agencies do provide some funds to assist in the aging out/first apartment process. Those funds may provide for first month’s rent, rental security deposits, utilities deposits and some furniture. Even with this financial assistance, much of the rest of the apartment remains empty. With no cooking or cleaning items, nutrition and health can be compromised. Many young adults leave foster care without any governmental or agency support at discharge.

Many foundations and organizations make funds available to improve the odds of success in a young adult aging out of foster care. Their programs, such as job training, mentoring and financial literacy, are examples of additional programming assistance that help to increase these odds. Hearts to Homes believes our program of providing essential home furnishings is a necessary and unique complement to such programs. After all, it is hard to be successful at a job without access to the items that help you to be presentable on the job – items like an iron and ironing board, a hair dryer or a shower curtain!

Read testimonials from our donors

Referring Agencies

What do our partners say?

“Youth aging out of foster care without support often do not finish school, are chronically unemployed, have no stable place to live. This must change!

We are proud of our partnership with Hearts to Homes! Together, we are supporting youth by making the transition to their adult lives much smoother.

While Children’s Village provides housing and a foundation for saving money and pursuing education and careers, Hearts to Homes provides home furnishings that make places feel like homes, giving our youth real encouragement as they make this difficult transition.

Hearts to Homes is a unique organization that makes a tremendous difference to our youth – thank you!”

Jeremy Kohomban, President and CEO
The Children’s Village

“Moving into a home of one’s own is a significant milestone for all young adults. Hearts to Homes honors the profound significance of this step for young people aging out of foster care and understands how anxiety-provoking it can be for even our most resilient and resourceful young people.

Through the generosity of Hearts to Homes, youth at JCCA receive the furnishings and decorations that make a house a home, helping create a space of their own that reflects the stability and support we want for them for years to come.”

Ronald E. Richter, CEO and Executive Director
JCCA

What does it cost to help?

There are a variety of ways that you can help and an option for every budget:

If you only have $10 to give, you can buy laundry detergent or oven mitts,
$25 will buy a tool set or a shower curtain,
$50 will buy a set of dishes and cutlery,
$75 will buy pots and pans, and
$100 buys a comforter, sheets and pillows.

If you have more support to give, you would be providing much-needed furniture:

$300 will buy a comfortable chair for the living room,
$500 will complete a bedroom, and
$900 will complete a kitchen and a bathroom.

NYC housing grants may provide furniture support for referred NYC youth, allowing Hearts to Homes to provide the remaining essential furnishings for an average cost of $1,200. Housing grants are typically not available to youth outside of NYC, so furnishing costs rise to $3,100 with the provision of several essential furniture items, including a loveseat, chair, dinette, and bedroom set.

Please consider sharing our mission, and our current campaigns, with your friends.

It takes just a moment to help change a life.

Hearts to Homes is listed on GuideStar.

Non-Discriminatory Statement

Hearts to Homes does not, by policy or practice, discriminate against a person or group on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, marital or military status, or based on any individual’s status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law.