Diamond | A Chair-ity Success Story

Diamond, 23, recently received our services after spending several months homeless and sleeping in a tent.

She is currently in the Bridges program which helped her find housing - a third floor walkup attic apartment that she shares with her partner, who also aged out of foster care. They came with only what they could carry, and without Chair-ity’s services, they did not know how they would afford to furnish their new space.

“Furniture is very expensive,” Diamond said. “I would have still been sleeping on an air mattress and eating off of paper plates and plastic silverware that I had to continue bleaching.”

That was their only plan until they were referred to Chair-ity. The stairs leading to their apartment were so tight that the first couch that was chosen for Diamond did not make it, but we made a promise to furnish her space. We scheduled a second delivery with a slightly smaller couch that we were able to fit up the stairs and complete her apartment. She also received a coffee table, end table, TV stand, desk, dining table, dresser, bookshelf, kitchen goods, lamps, and a new bed and bedframe. Diamond was so overjoyed when her small attic apartment started to feel like a cozy new home.

Chair-ity’s mission is to remove the financial and emotional burden of transitioning from foster care to independent living by creating a sense of home.  Diamond explained that with our help she no longer had to spend everything she earned on furniture and living essentials, and with the financial flexibility she would “plan on saving. When you experience homelessness, you gain an understanding of money and saving." 

Foster kids do not choose to be foster kids, yet the choice forever changes the trajectory of their life.

When they age out of the system, nearly 25% become instantly homeless. With Chair-ity's help, they are able to get back on their feet and begin a life where they are in control. Now, Diamond and her partner are both enrolled in classes at Tri-C, as well as working full time to support themselves. We see a bright future for them and are honored to be part of their support system!