Salvation Army Free Furniture Vouchers

Furniture is an important part of any home — but the facts are that it can get expensive. Not everyone can afford high-end furniture, and some people may only require furniture for a short period, which makes purchasing new furniture unnecessary. Fortunately, many furniture banks and organizations provide free furniture to low-income households and the less fortunate.

The Salvation Army is one such charity that provides free furniture salvation army to folks struggling in their daily lives. You can buy furniture from the Salvation Army furniture collection with furniture vouchers from the Salvation Army, whether you require home furniture or just a couch.^[1]

Why People Need Free Furniture

Every year, many people face challenges due to natural disasters such as fires, floods, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other events in which they lose everything. They may not always have enough money to return things to normal. Furniture support helps low-income families to furnish their houses.

If you find yourself in this scenario and don’t have the funds to purchase new furniture, the Salvation Army can assist you with a free furniture voucher. Furniture vouchers from the Salvation Army are a wonderful blessing for low-income families. You can acquire free furniture from your local Salvation Army store in the United States and other countries.

Types of Furniture Available Through Salvation Army Vouchers

Salvation Army furniture vouchers are designed to help individuals and families furnish their homes with essential items. Recipients can typically select from a variety of furniture pieces, depending on availability. Common items include:

• Beds and Mattresses: Essential for a good night's sleep, available in various sizes.
• Sofas and Chairs: Comfortable seating options for living areas.
• Dining Tables and Chairs: For mealtime gatherings.
• Dressers and Wardrobes: Providing essential storage for clothing.
• Desks and Bookshelves: Suitable for study or work areas.
• Children’s Furniture: Including cribs and small-sized tables and chairs.

Getting The Salvation Army Furniture Voucher

To obtain a Salvation Army Free Furniture Voucher, go to your local Salvation Army and request one. You can use their website to identify the closest store to you, as well as deadlines, eligibility requirements, and other information about the free Salvation Army furniture vouchers. 

2024 Updates to the Salvation Army Free Furniture Voucher Program

In 2024, the Salvation Army has made several key updates to the Free Furniture Voucher program to better serve communities:

• Expanded Eligibility: The Salvation Army broadened the eligibility criteria, allowing more individuals and families in need to benefit from the program.
• Increased Variety of Furniture: This year, Salvation Army offering an expanded range of furniture items, including energy-efficient appliances and eco-friendly furniture options.
• Online Application Process: To make access easier, we've introduced an online application form available on the website, streamlining the process for applicants.
• Partnership with Local Furniture Stores: Salvation Army has partnered with additional local furniture stores, providing a wider selection of items and locations where vouchers can be redeemed.
• Sustainability Focus: In line with the Salvation Army’s commitment to sustainability, we're now offering more upcycled and refurbished furniture options.
• Enhanced Support Services: Applicants can now access support services, including assistance in selecting appropriate furniture and arranging transportation for large items.

Using The Salvation Army Furniture Voucher 

Low-income families and the needy can use these furniture vouchers to get free furniture from nearby stores. You must visit the store and produce your voucher to redeem these Salvation Army furniture vouchers. The Salvation Army also provides furniture aid to deliver items such as couches, tables, dressers, beds, and chairs. 

The voucher cannot be transferred to another person’s name, and one may use each voucher only once. 

Other Ways Low-Income Families Can Get Furniture Assistance

If free furniture vouchers are difficult for you to obtain, there are plenty of other avenues that low-income families can use to get furniture assistance. This can include Goodwill, the Crisis Assistance Ministry, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Heroes Warehouse, and more. 

Since furniture can often cost thousands of dollars, you can gain plenty of discounts by being creative and visiting multiple locations in your area. While some of these options may offer free furniture, not all of them do, so it is best to do your research and exercise caution, especially if you are making in-person transactions. 

Goodwill Industries

In 2020, Goodwill provided aid to over 1 million individuals around the world and provided training to over 126,000 people in IT, health care, and banking. They also provide programs to those in need, including education, access to transportation, child care, and English language classes. 

They aim to improve the quality of life for communities, eliminating their barriers to opportunity and helping them reach their full potential through learning and the power of work. There are currently 165 local Goodwill retail stores in the United States and Canada, helping you gain access to plenty of furniture options. They generally have bedroom furniture, secondhand furniture sets, gently used office furniture, and accessories that can brighten up your home. 

The good news is that while they might not be free of charge, there are plenty of vintage options and statement pieces that are lower than retail prices. Purchasing these items also supports the local community. 

Crisis Assistance Ministry

The Crisis Assistance Ministry was formed in 1975 by a group of churches in order for Mecklenburg County residents to receive emergency financial assistance to prevent homelessness and utility disconnection.

Several years later, Charlotte leaders founded the Free Store to consolidate clothing closets for families experiencing poverty. They also started providing emergency financial assistance programs through the Crisis Assistance Ministry. 

In the 1990s, the Crisis Assistance Ministry formed the Furniture Bank in order to distribute appliances, beds, and furniture to those in need more effectively. The Furniture Bank accepts donations of new and gently used furniture and appliances, which are given to Mecklenburg County households who need free furniture. 

They are distributed through the Crisis Assistance Ministry's Partner Agency network.

Heroes Warehouse

Heroes Warehouse aims to provide furniture and other home essentials to homeless veterans and their families. It’s one of the best programs to help you find free furniture if you need assistance sourcing tables, chairs, beds, and dressers for your home.

Since its establishment, the Heroes Warehouse non-profit has assisted more than 5,600 veteran families in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. Volunteers totally run it and accept donations of new and used household items such as couches, loveseats, tables & chairs, coffee & end tables, lamps, dishes, and other goods.

Due to the pandemic, they don’t currently accept mattresses, large appliances, or clothing. You may contact them at [email protected], (909) 714-2640, or fill out an online form on their home page. 

St Vincent de Paul

The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul was established on April 26, 1946. It is an excellent place to find free furniture in Phoenix. They are an international non-profit organization aiming to serve the poor and provide others with the chance to serve.

They currently accept furniture donations, including gently used furniture, appliances, and household or clothing items contained in bags or boxes. They provide outside pick-ups only (i.e., curbside, driveway, open garage with someone home).

However, they do not go into second floors or come inside homes, so it is best to check their website for a list of complete guidelines.

Any donated furniture items are sold at Saint Vincent de Paul Thrift Stores at a discounted price to raise funds for the feeding, clothing, and housing of families in need-based in Arizona. Donations are also given to families who have experienced homelessness and are trying to establish themselves.

Ashley Furniture Free Bed Assistance Program

The Ashley Furniture Free Bed Assistance Program has a Hope to Dream program. Their mission statement is that every child should have a good night's sleep and a bed to call their own. They believe that by helping a child improve their quality of sleep, they are poised to lead a healthier and more productive life.

The Ashley stores donate a portion of their mattress sales to the Hope to Dream program. Since 2010, this program has provided free twin bed mattresses to over 125,000 children in North America. They provide a twin mattress, bed frame, bedding, and pillow to a child in need.

In order to nominate a child for their  assistance program, they need to meet the following qualifications: 

• Underprivileged children between the ages of 3 and 16 who don’t have beds
• Families with very low income, those who live in poverty, or those who are transitioning from homelessness
• Nominated by a school social worker, case manager, church, and other charitable organizations

However, they note that the review and selection process of deserving children varies at each participating Ashley retail location on a quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis. 

Once you submit your nomination, it will be looked over by a selection committee. The availability and distribution of beds vary depending on the participating locations. 

Unfortunately, the company can’t guarantee that all nominations received will be selected to receive a bed frame and mattress, but in the event that a child is selected, the parent or legal guardian will be notified by phone or email.

Furniture Bank Network

The Furniture Bank Network is made up of several free furniture banks located across North America. Furniture banks prevent tens of thousands of pounds of furniture from going into landfills each year. Instead of rotting in a landfill, this furniture is redistributed back into the community for those who need it. 

Every furniture bank has its own means of operation, but every single one aims to provide furniture and household goods to the community to help families establish themselves at home. The Furniture Bank Network aims to connect furniture banks together so that they can learn from one another and fight against furniture poverty.

To get started, you can use the online map of free furniture banks on their website to locate one in your area. You will need to visit each furniture bank’s website for more details and on how to access their services.

Catholic Charities

Over a century ago, hospitals in North Carolina offered free or affordable medical services to the poor by Benedictine monks and the Sisters of Mercy. In 1948, the Bishop Vincent S. Waters of the Catholic Diocese of Raleigh incorporated The Bureau of Catholic Charities to provide aid to the poor and vulnerable.

Since then, the Catholic Charities Diocese of Charlotte has grown to a staff of over sixty professionals and numerous volunteers providing aid to those in need of assistance, including:

• Foster care, adoption, and pregnancy services
• Individual, marriage, and family counseling
• Distribution of donated services to the needy
• Family enrichment services such as elder ministry, marriage preparation, and natural family planning
• Refugee resettlement and immigration services
• Disaster relief
• Economic opportunity development
• Support for pregnant teens and teens in crisis

They are accepting furniture and household goods donations soon since they are still sourcing storage space in order to accept them. Check their websites for updates. 

On their website, Catholic Charities mentions how refugees often arrive in the United States with very few material possessions. Because of this, they aim to distribute gently used furniture and household items for newly coming refugee families to build homes. 

They note that donated items must be clean and in good condition. They won’t accept soiled, stained, torn, or broken items. In addition, any cookware and bakeware should not be stained, scratched, or have a peeling non-stick coating.

If you are a refugee family in need, you may find free furniture, including: 

• Dining tables and chairs
• Sofas (no sleeper sofas or recliners)
• Side chairs
• Coffee tables and side tables
• Dressers
• Nightstands
• Dishes, cookware, bakeware, and flatware
• Cooking knives
• Bed and bath (new only)
• Blankets (new only)
• Floor and table lamps
• Gently used washer/dryer set

American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is known for its assistance with relief in the wake of a natural disaster. They provide food, shelter, and clothing through charitable donations. The American Red Cross has partnered with the GreenDrop donation center in order to further aid those in indeed. 

GreenDrop offers plenty of services, including free donation pickup and Home Clean-Out. Home Clean-Out is a free service that helps individuals sort and donate large volumes of clothing and household items, helping them organize for a move. Someone from their company enables you to identify which items can be donated and helps you prepare for the drivers who will pack and remove your donation.

After collecting your items, GreenDrop sells furniture donations to thrift stores across the United States, and these funds go to support various charities. In 2019, the proceeds from these sales totaled over $3.7 million in terms of charitable aid.

GreenDrop accepts clothing, household goods, electronics, tools, toys, and more donations. While they do accept used furniture for free, there is a list of items that they won’t accept, including donated items that weigh over 50 pounds and tube TVs or tube computer monitors (due to environmental regulations). 

You may be able to find affordable furniture from GreenDrop at 2nd Ave. Value Stores and Village Thrift branches nationwide. 

Thrift Stores

A good place that offers free furniture is your local thrift store. Secondhand furniture can be a lot cheaper than those found at retail stores, and with some luck, you may be able to find some gently used items that would be a great fit in your home. 

Some thrift stores may offer special sales discounts on furniture in order to make room for larger items after a big donation. Sometimes, they may even give away free furniture on certain days. This is especially true if you’re willing to transport the item on your own or trade in items of equal value.

In order to avoid wasting your time, it’s best to give a call to the thrift stores in your area to ask if they have any furniture items they’re willing to give away for free or sell to you at an affordable price. You should also let them know you’re willing to take care of transport as well.

United Way 211

There are over 200 211 agencies across the US, aiming to provide the best resources and services. The network responds to over 20 million requests on an annual basis through text messages, online chats, and calls. Many of these are from individuals looking for aid in the areas of housing, food, transportation, and health care.

211 was designated as the 3-digit number for information and referrals to social service organizations in the year 2000 by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). They partner with over 200 local organizations, including United Way, Goodwill, Community Action Partnerships, and other local crisis centers.

United Way is a free and confidential service that offers assistance to those in need through a 24/7 toll-free hotline. You can get in touch with a community resource specialist in your area who can connect you to a  local organization that will be able to assist you in terms of housing and furniture assistance. 

Yard Sales

Yard sales are another great source of free or cheap furniture. A good tip is to wait until the end of the day since sellers are more likely to want to get rid of their things and be more willing to provide a huge discount that may not be given to you earlier in the day. Negotiating to buy several items can also net you a larger discount overall.

You may also be able to get a bulky item for free if you’re willing to haul it away on your own, depending on the seller. 

Don’t forget to inspect every item closely before buying and bringing your own packing supplies to save on cost. Doing your research online, timing your visit right, and learning to negotiate can help you find the best furniture deals. 

Freecycle Free Furniture

Freecycle is a nonprofit movement designed to help people give and get things for free in their own towns, and membership is free. It offers free furniture and other household items to those in need, and all you need to do is browse its website for listings in your area. 

It is available in over 110 countries and encourages people to reuse their goods instead of throwing them away. 

Facebook Marketplace 

Facebook has plenty of groups that can provide free furniture in your area, and it’s just one search away. All you need to do is click join to be able to comment on free furniture posts. 

Facebook Marketplace is another great avenue to help you locate free and cheap furniture. You can use your mobile app or desktop computer to filter results by type of furniture, garage sales, yard sales, and more. You can even save your searches, create an alert for when something is posted, and even filter out “free” items. 

Other useful features include creating a list of your favorites and getting alerted when there’s a price drop. 

Nextdoor

Nextdoor is a website and an app that allows individuals in a neighborhood to connect. In addition to helping you locate free furniture, you can do other things like find a babysitter, hire someone for a quick repair job, and more. All you need to do is type in your street address, email address, and apartment number to get started. 

In terms of furniture, there are plenty of posts about yard sales or individuals who are giving away free household and furniture items in your area. You may even be able to get things like free moving boxes that can come in handy when transporting goods. 

However, one thing to keep in mind is that you can only make connections in your neighborhood. For security reasons, every person who signs up has to verify their address and use their real name, but you can choose which information you’re willing to share. Despite this, it’s free and simple to use to get the assistance you need.

OfferUp

OfferUp is an online consumer marketplace with an emphasis on in-person sales and mobile apps. It was founded as a competitor to Craigslist, providing greater value with mobile-friendly apps and creating user profiles with ratings in order to boost trustworthiness.

It is a great palace in which to find free or affordable furniture. All you need to do is type in the keyword “free” and see what items come up in your area. Even if you spot something that isn’t free, you can also make an offer on items based on the asking price since all prices are negotiable on the platform. 

To help you score some deals and discounts, you should also look at what other items a seller has if you already want to get one item. You may be able to get a lower price based on buying two or more items or even get the lower-priced item free of charge. 

Craigslist

Although Craigslist may not have the best reputation of all time, it is still one of the most popular classified services out there. You may still be able to find high-quality free furniture and other items through a quick search. However, there are several things you should keep in mind in order to make safe and trustworthy deals on the platform:

• Avoid giving out your real contact information, especially for any financial data. The good thing about Craigslist is that they provide you with a proxy email address meaning you never have to reveal your personal email. 
• If you need to meet someone, try your best to do it in a public area. However, if you’re picking up bulky furniture and have to drop by someone’s home, it is a good idea to bring a companion for maximum safety. 

Who Can Apply For Free Furniture?

When you come into the store, one of the employees will conduct an eligibility check. You will receive assistance if your application is accepted. When applying for eligibility, the most crucial part is explaining your situation and how furniture may significantly impact your family and your life. People who are qualified to apply for the free furniture vouchers Salvation Army provides must fall into the following categories:

• Low-income families
• Single mothers
• Low-income individuals with serious health problems
• Domestic violence victims
• Natural disaster victims
• People moving out of a shelter

Citizens from any of the above groups can apply for furniture vouchers through the Salvation Army.

Frequently Asked Questions

We hope this guide will help you in your quest to obtain free furniture from the Salvation Army. If you’re interested in learning how you can get free Christmas gifts from various grants and foundations that can help you with your day-to-day life, check out the rest of Gov-Relation’s resources today!