Getting Free Household Items and Furniture in Minneapolis After Leaving Homelessness
You’ve made the brave decision to move into your own home—that’s a huge step. Now comes the challenge of furnishing and equipping your space. The good news is that Minneapolis has many resources dedicated to helping people transitioning out of homelessness get the household items and furniture they need to build a stable, comfortable home.
Programs That Provide Free Furniture and Household Items
Bridging is one of the most well-known resources in the Twin Cities. Bridging is a nonprofit organization that helps people transitioning out of homelessness furnish their new homes and has helped 115,000 households since 1987. Bridging Inc. provides families with a one-time gift of quality furniture and household items, but a person must be referred by a Bridging referral agency to be determined eligible.
- Call 952-888-1105 to find a Bridging referral agency near you
- Items must be free of rips and tears and either new or gently used, clean and functional
- They accept large items such as beds and mattresses, as well as small items like linens, microwaves, and radios
State Programs for Housing Assistance
Minnesota has several state-funded programs designed to help people transition into stable housing with the items needed to make it work.
- Housing Access Services provides financial assistance for application fees, deposits, furnishings, and household items, along with personalized support to find and access housing of choice
- Supportive Housing programs provide independent apartment units or shared housing where residents get supportive services, like getting a unit set up with furniture and household supplies, employment services, or health-related services
- The Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance Program (FHPAP) provides supportive services and financial assistance, such as rent deposits, rent payments or utility payments, to eligible households that are homeless or at imminent risk of homeless
Free and Affordable Places to Shop for Furniture
If you have some income or resources, these stores offer quality items at deeply discounted prices—and many actively support housing programs.
Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity ReStore is a home improvement outlet open to the public, and all revenue supports Habitat’s mission to eliminate poverty housing from the Twin Cities
- Twin Cities Habitat ReStore accepts furniture, large household appliances, hardware, building materials, and more, with three locations in Brooklyn Park, Minneapolis, and New Brighton
- ReStore accepts drop-off donations during designated donation hours and also offers a FREE donation pick-up service
- Items are deeply discounted compared to retail prices
The Salvation Army
- Salvation Army Family Stores in the Twin Cities provide quality and affordable items including clothing, furniture, collectibles, books, movies, antiques, and much more
- Multiple Minneapolis locations with affordable furniture and household goods
- Many service centers provide housing help through rent assistance, and about 350 people each night rely on The Salvation Army for housing in emergency, transitional or permanent-supportive housing programs
Community Resources and Free Stores
Minneapolis has several community-based programs offering free items to those in need:
- Sharing and Caring Hands is a Minneapolis nonprofit drop-in center dedicated to providing food, shelter, and clothing to the unhoused population (525 N. 7th St, Minneapolis)
- Sharing and Caring Hands accepts food for their food shelf, as well as new or gently used clothing, household items, car seats, and personal hygiene items, and everything donated is given for free to people experiencing homelessness and others in need
- Open Your Heart funding provides essential basic household and personal items free of charge for individuals and families visiting St. Andrew’s Community Resource Center (CRC)
- The Landing MN’s Day Center offers a resource room stocked with essential items such as clothing, shoes, and hygiene products, and is open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm
Special Programs for Veterans and Young Adults
Sofas for Service provides free household furnishings for new apartments and houses to Veterans in need, including bedroom furniture, living room furniture, kitchen items, and miscellaneous items, currently serving Veterans in Wisconsin and Minnesota
Tips for Finding What You Need
- Start with a referral agency: If you’re eligible for Bridging, ask your caseworker or housing agency how to get a referral
- Check state housing programs: Ask about Housing Access Services when applying for housing assistance
- Visit resource centers in person: Many organizations have items available on-site—Sharing and Caring Hands and The Landing MN have daily or weekly hours
- Ask about furniture banks: Contact Supportive Services organizations to learn about other community resources
Reaching Out for Help
Furnishing a new home after homelessness is a real challenge, but you don’t have to do it alone. These organizations exist specifically to help people like you build stable, dignified living situations. Start by connecting with your housing provider or caseworker—they often have direct referral relationships with furniture programs and can speed up the process.
Remember that getting your space set up is part of your recovery journey. Taking time to create a comfortable home is an investment in your stability and well-being.
Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels