Do you know the good feeling of using quality products or wearing new clothes? You can help us offer that to our residents. Living on limited incomes, our residents are accustomed to using dollar-store brands. The products do their job but don’t leave women with that “I can overcome any obstacle” feeling. We want every resident to know they are worthy of love and care, and you help show that by providing quality products.
Community members regularly offer Haven Housing used clothing, linens, shoes, household items, and travel-sized toiletries, which we turn down because we do not need these items. On occasion, we’ve been called ungrateful, but we set this boundary because we want you to be part of our mission. We owe it to you, our donors, to communicate our needs so that your generosity can help provide women and women-led families in crisis or transition with shelter and housing and the opportunity to explore options for their future.
Haven Housing is not a thrift store. We do not have the staffing or storage space to manage an inventory of used goods. Haven Housing staff and volunteers focus on providing services to the women and children we serve and don’t have time to manage inventory. We try to optimize our spaces for residents and programming. There isn’t much storage space, and we need what is available to store new items for residents when they move into or out of our programs. Haven Housing residents have access to quality thrift stores like our partners at Goodwill-Easter Seals and access to apartment furnishings through Bridging; they do not need us to provide that service.
We need to protect the health and safety of our staff and residents. Donations of used goods have often sat unused in a donor’s home, garage, or attic for a while, and in that time, collected dust and animal hair or dirt and bugs may have gotten in. In recent months, we’ve also had to worry about the spread of diseases like Monkeypox. We ask for new items because we cannot clean and sanitize donations.
Women and children stay with us for as long as they need, so the supplies need to last that long. Whether it takes a couple of months to find an apartment or a year or more to stabilize in recovery, Haven Housing residents need clothing, hygiene products, and other necessities that will last that long. Giving new clothing and full-sized products shows women and children that you care about their long-term success. Travel-sized toiletries and single pairs of socks and underwear are much more useful to nonprofits like Agate that provide outreach to unsheltered people.
Every woman and family has different needs. Monetary donations provide Haven Housing with the greatest flexibility to meet a person’s needs when it arises. We strive to keep our supply needs up to date on our website, and you can always email us with questions. Thank you for being so supportive! We are grateful for your help to ensure that everyone has safety, dignity, and opportunity to thrive—a haven.