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Our Mission
Our Mission
A Home Of Our Own Howard, Inc. provides essential furniture and household items at no cost to qualifying Howard County residents who are transitioning to permanent housing within our community to enhance their comfort, dignity, and quality of life.
Our Vision
Our Vision
We envision establishing long-term relationships with individuals, businesses, congregations, and community organizations in Howard County, as donors, volunteers, and partners. A Home Of Our Own Howard, Inc., with our community’s assistance, helps ensure that all of our neighbors have comfortable places to call home and build successful futures.
New beds and bedding for a HOOO client's family
How We Began
How We Began
Home Of Our Own was incorporated in 2020, but the story begins about six years earlier when Founder Betty Pearson was volunteering at the Grassroots Day Resource Center. She saw many homeless individuals and families get housing assistance, only to find themselves in need of furniture and basic household items that they could not afford to buy. No agency in the county provided services to help with this need. Betty had an idea.
She and a handful of others began finding free furniture online, from neighbors and friends and found a community eager to help. Grassroots gave them referrals of families and individuals who had gotten housing and the newly-formed team got to work furnishing their spaces.
Today, Home Of Our Own is an all-volunteer, registered, nonprofit organization with the support of 24 referring agencies. Betty continues to head the organization as its Board President. “10 years ago, a few of us were storing sofas in our basements to help a handful of people with some basic furniture,” she said. “I am so amazed at where we are now. With the help of our larger community, we helped more than 100 families turn their empty rooms into places where they were comfortable and could welcome friends and neighbors. I know they are grateful and happy to feel like part of the community. I couldn’t be more thrilled, and I look forward to helping even more of our neighbors feel at home."
What We Do
What We Do
Furniture and Goods Donations
Step 1: Communication team volunteers request donations of furniture and household goods through social media, presentations, word of mouth, and postings.
Step 2: Our Donor Management team screens donation offers to ensure they meet HOOO's requirements, and arrange for pick up.
Step 3: Transportation and Household Goods team members go to donors' homes, check to make sure donated items meet HOOO's standards, and transport them to our Center.
Step 4: Inventory team members inspect, clean, organize, and ready donations for clients. Repair & Furniture Flip teams fix Items and refinish furniture that is in good condition but may have minor flaws.
Client Services
Step 1: One of our referring organizations sends us information about a client needing assistance, including a completed form showing the client's furniture and home good needs.
Step 2: A Client Care volunteer makes a home visit to discuss the client's needs, take measurements of the available space and finalize a list of the needed items.
Step 3: A Client Care volunteer selects, photographs and emails furniture options to the client for their selection and approval.
Step 4: The Inventory Team manages outgoing furnishings by collecting, cleaning, labeling, boxing, and staging items for transport.
Step 5: The Transport Team delivers and places the requested items to the client's home. Volunteers will assemble larger items for the client.
Step 6: A Client Care volunteer checks in with the client about a month after delivery to offer mirrors and wall art.
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