Impact on Recipients

A Solution to Homelessness

50% of the Homeless Population Spent Time in Foster Care

Furnishing a home is a weapon against homelessness: “Furniture provision services reduces tenancy failure… a lack of furniture has adverse psychological impacts.”*

A Roof is Not Enough – Upcycling & Volunteers Change Everything

In 90-minutes, a community of loving volunteers harnesses the excess capacity business model to furnish a space with donated goods. Without a bed, basic kitchen items, and a place to work, eat, and study, self-sufficiency is not possible.

*(CRESR at Sheffield Hallam University, “Assessment of the need for furniture” Aimee Ambrose, et al, Mar. 2016)

A Unique & Proven Model
99% Success Rate

99% of recipients successfully maintain their tenancy and do not experience future homelessness. While organizations exist to support foster youths’ transitions to independence, no other organization is exclusively dedicated to providing home necessities to help youth successfully achieve self-sufficiency.

75%
 of recipients report feeling in control of their finances.

99%
 of recipients have successfully maintained their sense of home.

100%
 of recipients report feeling hopeful about their future.

100%
 of recipients report feeling confident in their ability to succeed.

100%
 of recipients report feeling equipped to take on life’s challenges.

Home is a Gateway

Home is a gateway to improved well-being, and to a greater likelihood of success in work, education, and relationships.

  1. The National Scientific Council Report attributes substandard housing and separation from parent(s) are among the main factors that are toxic to the developing brain.
  2. Several recent major studies led by APS Fellow Eldar Shafir of Princeton University published in Science Magazine (Vol. 341 and 338) have found poverty/scarcity:
    • Impedes cognitive function
    • Creates a downward spiral of poor decision-making, impacting well-being due to a focus on survival known as “scarcity-induced focus”
  3. Neuroscience Institute published a study (The Journal of Neuroscience, 2011) on the effects of living environments on neural processing capacity. The conclusions were strong:
    • This research shows that employees and/or students are more productive, distracted less often, less irritable, and able to process information better when living in an uncluttered, organized, functional home.

Breaking Down Barriers

ASOH eliminates 3 barriers preventing youth from obtaining and maintaining a sense of home. Equally important, the “how” of the model exemplifies how the youth break these same barriers in another circumstance – allowing the recipient to thrive after their home creation.

Economical

Barrier:

The financial means to furnish one’s home.

Gains:

  1. The ASOH model harnesses the shared economy’s excess capacity model and exemplifies what can be done with items no longer needed and goodwill in the community. It represents an economic model that works for all in the equation and embodies a sustainable application to life.
  2. The process is seamless and efficient demonstrating how much can be done with so little.

Physical

Barrier:

The physical capacity to furnish one’s home, on their own.

Gains:

  1. In less than 90 minutes a home is created, demonstrating that we go further together and the power of teamwork.
  2. Youth pay-it-forward, becoming empowered as team members and learning how much they have to offer.

Psychological

Barrier:

Where to begin? How to go about furnishing one’s home.

Gains:

  1. The design is personalized for the recipient, making them feel seen and heard.
  2. The recipients learn that they matter to the world when a group of strangers literally show up on their doorstep and prove they are worthy of celebration.
  3. The introduction ceremonial circle is an opportunity for the recipient to share their story, hopes, and dreams whilst also hearing and seeing the vulnerability and joy of strangers making them feel connected to greater humanity.
  4. The furniture installed is of high quality, letting the recipient know that they are worth it, and signifies the quality that they should strive for.
  5. Environmental psychology has proven that we see ourselves the way see our environment. Therefore the inspiring new home environment improves self-esteem, self-confidence, increased feelings of self-worth.
  6. The before and after of their once empty and depressing space in only 90 minutes exemplifies that radical transformation is possible.

ASOH’s Hierarchy of Needs

Based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow’s theory argues that humans have a series of needs, which by addressing, enables us to reach our full potential. The UN Development Program measures its Human Development Index not in the gross domestic product of a nation, but in the capabilities of individuals to achieve sets of outcomes that improve the human condition — by how much a citizenry moves up Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. By providing a home created by the community and former foster youth, ASOH has the unique ability to move individuals through all levels of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and improve the human condition.

Outcomes of Attaining Each Level

Preventing Homelessness

Financial Independence

Breaking the Cycle of Generational Poverty

Increased Community Connection

Creating a Community of Like-Minded Individuals

Reduction of Children Going Into Foster Care

More Productive Citizens in Work and Education

Transform from Surviving to Thriving

Foster youth who have overcome all odds to achieve a roof over their head, but arrive with only the means to live on the floor, are likely to become homeless. ASOH helps them go from surviving to thriving.

25% of Youth
who have aged-out of the system won’t graduate from high school or be able to pass their GED.

80%
of incarcerated inmates in US prisons have spent time in foster care.

70%
of girls who have been in the system of foster care will become pregnant before age 21.

50%
of the homeless population spent time in foster care.

60%
of all child sex trafficking victims have histories of being in foster care.

47%
is the unemployment rate of youth aging out of the foster care system.

Less Than 3% Chance
of aged-out foster care youths going on to earn a college degree at any point in their lifetime.

25%
of foster youth have been diagnosed with PTSD.

Impact on Recipients - A Sense of Home