Mission
A Sense of Home strives to prevent homelessness by creating homes and an ongoing community of care for displaced persons.
Why We Exist
At the moment of displacement an individual or family is at greatest risk of homelessness. We understand that to create a sense of home and sense of community is the most critical step towards preventing homelessness.
The cycle of homelessness begins after an individual or family abruptly loses their home. By providing furniture and homegoods with the support of a community if volunteers, A Sense of Home provides the necessary foundation needed for a family or an individual to rebuild their lives and improve outcomes for themselves and those around them.
Vision
- We believe that a sense of home is the necessary foundation for survival.
- We believe in a world where furniture and home goods are never sent to landfills but are always given a second life in a new home.
- We believe that a community’s strength lies in its ability to help others while providing hope and healing in a new home.
- We believe in a society where furniture and home goods that are no longer needed by individuals, businesses, and organizations are diverted to our community members who have been displaced and need to rebuild their lives.
Who We Serve
Former Foster Youth
It is not widely understood that most young people who enter the foster care system are not adopted. At age 18 or 21 they leave the system, without family or community, and find themselves displaced. 50% of the homeless population spent time in foster care. A former foster youth might be able to secure a housing voucher and a rental apartment but they have no means to secure the items needed for it to operate as a dwelling. 50% of the homeless population spent time in foster care.
Survivors of Natural Disasters
Over 3 million Americans are displaced by natural disasters in a single year. If trends continue, 1.2 billion people globally could be displaced due to disasters by 2050.
How We Serve
A Sense of Home prevents homelessness by bringing donors, volunteers, and corporate partners together to create homes full of hope and love. By providing furniture and home goods, A Sense of Home creates the foundation of home and a sense of belonging and healing for a fellow community member.
History
2025
- Launch of the Disaster Relief program to create homes for those who lost everything in the LA Fires
- Welcome first ever successor CEO, Ken Grouf
- Founder Georgie Smith moves into role of President
- Drew Scott joins the Board of Directors
2024
- Double the size of the operations space in LA
- Set up HQ to oversee scaling
- Expand Peer to Peer Mentorships Program (previously known as PIFA)
- Introduce Community Mentorship Program
- Monthly Life Skill Workshops
- Expand Job Training & Career Access Programs
2023
- A full year of implementing the ASOH App
- Identify partner organization to expand to NYC
- Hire first-ever Executive Director to run LA Chapter
- 3rd ever Gala
- 900th home created
- Pilot the ASOH Scholarship
- Pilot ASOH Financial Literacy Training
- 3 annual Alumni events/year
- Expand access to Therapy and Wellbeing Programs
2022
- Begin using the ASOH App
- Shift into post-pandemic planning
- Return to onsite Home Creations
- 2 NYC-based organizations approach the org to operate ASOH in NYC
- Second ever gala
- 800th home created
2021
- 710th home created
- Human Rights Day Honoree by the United Nations, LA Chapter.
- Expanded the ASOH Resource Network
- Incorporated the COVID safe warehouse home creation into the model
- Brands donate a % of sales to ASOH
- Beta tested the ASOH App
- 250k donation from Hilton Foundation & expand funding partners
2020
- Continued our work during the pandemic
- Begin building the ASOH App
- First external audit
- Complete model for scaling
- Additional brand collaborations
- Funding Partners expand
2019
- 500th home is created
- Start design of the ASOH App
- Create a structure for scaling
- Lease first warehouse space
- New brand collaborations with socially conscious brands
- Funding Partners expand
- First-ever ASOH gala
2018
- 300th home is created
- Now creating more than 110 homes per year
- Designer Kelly Wearstler launches #Designer Challenge
- First COO is hired. Internal audit and strategic plan for scale is completed.
- Snap Inc. sponsors 30 home creations / year
2017
- 200th home is created
- Snap Inc. sponsors 30 home creations / year
- National brands establish partnerships
- 3rd truck is donated
- Global brands join Snap Inc. in sponsoring homes.
2016
- ASOH receives its 501c 3 status
- 100th home is created
- All major agencies & judges in LA begin referring youth to ASOH
- Founder honored as Top 10 CNN Hero
- 2nd truck is donated
2015
- Georgie Smith & Melissa Goddard perform a random act of kindness that spawned a movement creating homes for youth who aging out of foster care
- Smith & Goddard register ASOH as a 501c 3
- ASOH begins operating as a pilot program under a fiscal sponsor
- ASOH receives its first-ever donation and with it, a truck is purchased
- A donated warehouse allows furniture donations to be stored
- First employees are hired
- In October ASOH’s founding board is established and meets
© 2025 Copyright A Sense of Home,
A tax exempt charitable organization qualified under
Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.
Tax ID# 47-3814056.
© 2025 Copyright A Sense of Home
Mission and History - A Sense of Home