By Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation
The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation is pleased to welcome Chicago Furniture Bank (CFB) to our Grantee Blog. The mission of the CFB is to provide essential furniture to individuals and families in need. CFB believes everyone should be able to sleep in a bed, share a family meal at a kitchen table, and enjoy the comfort of a furnished home.
Courtesy of The Chicago Furniture Bank
At CFB, we have the privilege of bringing Chicagoland’s neighbors together to build something magnificent: a community where every individual and family has the support they need to create a home of their own. That process may begin with providing furniture, handpicked by our clients from our showroom, but what it makes possible goes so far beyond that. When our clients have the support to create a home, the stability they gain lays the foundation for an even brighter future.
As of 2025, CFB has furnished over 24,000 homes with more than 20 million pounds of furniture with the help of countless hands and hearts – each leaving with the knowledge that they’ve contributed to something meaningful. From the moment furniture is donated, we see a new chapter begin to unfold. Along the way, we’ve been inspired by countless stories about what happens when you don’t just furnish a home, but help build a future.
We think you will be, too.
CFB Stories: A Fresh Beginning Starts at Home
One client, a single father and veteran, had been living in his car with his young son after facing unlivable conditions from a neglectful landlord. With the help of local resources, he was able to secure an apartment but still needed furniture to create a safe, comfortable space for him and his son. With the support of CFB, he was able to fully furnish their new apartment, giving them, for the first time in years, a place to truly call home.
Another client had been hospitalized due to unsafe living conditions that impacted her health and prevented her from working. Once healthy enough to begin rebuilding her life, she needed support to regain stability. With a safe and comfortable home furnished by CFB, she was able to refocus on her goals and resume her nursing career.
For others, like a former IT worker who lost everything during the pandemic, a furnished home represents a fresh start. After years of experiencing homelessness, he was connected to a housing program and CFB. With their support, he was able to furnish his new home for himself and his son and begin rebuilding his career.
About Chicago Furniture Bank
The mission of the Chicago Furniture Bank is to provide essential furniture to individuals and families in need. Founded in July of 2018, we serve as an intermediary between Chicagoans who have extra furniture and those who need it. We provide furnishing packages to our clients that include beds, couches, armchairs, dressers, desks, end tables, coffee tables, kitchen tables + chairs, dish ware, rugs, lamps, artwork, mirrors, and more.
Learn more about CFB at chicagofurniturebank.org.