Mission

A Sense of Home strives to prevent homelessness by creating homes and an ongoing community of care for displaced individuals and families.

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 of 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
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  • Launch of the Disaster Recovery Program to create homes for those who lost everything in the LA Fires
  • An additional operations center opens to create 649 homes for Disaster Recovery in its 1st year alone
  • Year 1 of 3 year pilot with the Dept. of Children & Family Services & the ASOH Former Foster Youth Program
  • Drew Scott joins the Board of Directors
  • 250 apartments become available for ASOH to refer to former foster youth
  • Announced the opening of ASOH in NY
2024
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  • 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
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  • 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
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  • 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
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2020
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2019
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2018
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  • 300th home is created
  • Now creating more than 110 homes per year
  • Designer Kelly Wearstler launches #DesignerChallenge
  • First COO is hired. Internal audit and strategic plan for scale is completed.
  • Snap Inc. sponsors 30 home creations / year
2017
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2016
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  • 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
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  • Georgie Smith & Melissa Goddard help create a home for a young man who aged out of foster care and moved into his first-ever apartment with nothing but a trash bag
  • This random act of kindness spawns a movement creating homes for youth who are aging out of foster care
  • ASOH receieved a doanted warehouse, furniture, and its first-ever donations to purchase a truck, hire employees and form a Board
Mission and History - A Sense of Home