How to get free beds for kids assistance programs – Beds for children are a necessity that provides a safe and comfortable sleeping space. With the rise of homelessness, a lot of people, particularly low-income families are unable to afford the cost of buying basic furniture like beds and mattresses for their families.
Fortunately, some charities and organizations have stepped up to provide free bed and mattress assistance to low-income families with children. This guide will throw light on how you can avail free bed for your child if you’re living below the poverty line.
Highlights of this Post
What Are The Eligibility Criteria To Get Free Beds And Mattresses?
Charities and organizations that provide free beds and mattresses have set certain eligibility criteria to make sure the resources are distributed to needy families and children only.
Following are the few criteria that you need to fulfill to avail free beds and mattresses
- Be a citizen of the United States, a legal/ permanent resident or an eligible immigrant
- Must meet the age, income and household size requirements of the program.
- Must give proof of financial hardship that you’re going through and explain your need for bed and mattresses.
Apart from children the organizations that help people with free beds and mattresses play special emphasizes on the following groups of people
- Low-income families affected by natural disasters like volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and fires
- Needy families who are expanding their homes or moving to a new house and need new furniture and bed
- Senior citizens, disabled individuals and veterans can get free furniture and beds depending on their needs.
- Unemployed individuals and immigrants
- Single parents and low-income families who need a new bed and other furniture items for newborn babies.
- Victims of sexual assault or domestic violence
- Poor homeless families and individuals
- Low-income families who are living below the poverty line.
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What Are The Documents Required To Get Help For Free Beds For Kids Program?
Apart from fulfilling the eligibility criteria you need to submit relevant documents to get help with free beds and mattresses for your children. Even though the documents required may vary depending on your location and the type of program you are applying some of the relevant documents that are asked by grant-giving authorities are as follows:
- Citizenship, residency and immigration documents
- State government-issued photo IDs, passports, driver’s licenses, school registration, general birth certificate
- Proof of your current address like utility bill, copies of lease etc.
- Income verification documents like pay stubs, bank statements, employer contact information, tax returns etc.
- Proof of financial hardship that you are going through such as homelessness, housing crisis, loss of income, termination letter from your employer, disability or medical condition, natural disaster, domestic violence etc.
How To Apply For Free Beds For Kids Program?
Applying for free beds for children through organizations and charities requires applicants to follow a step-by-step process.
Research About The Available Programs
The first step is to research in-depth and identify the programs that provide free bedding to low-income families and children. The availability of the programs may vary depending on your location so do not forget to research online as well as local social service agencies.
Fulfill The Eligibility Criteria
Once you know a program that aligns your needs make sure to fulfill the eligibility criteria and inquire about the documents that you need to submit along with your application.
Gather Relevant Documents
The next step is to provide relevant documents like personal identification documents, Social Security cards, proof of citizenship and residency, proof of financial hardship and so on. Make sure to have these documents in handy before starting the application procedure.
Fill The Application Form And Submit The Documents
The next step is to fill out an application form in person or online and submit the supporting documents. Few organizations can ask you to submit additional documents like pay stubs or bank statements to verify your financial situation.
Wait For Approval
Once you submit the application and supporting documents the next step is to wait patiently for approvals. The waiting period may vary depending on the availability of the resources.
Once your application gets approved, you will get a notification from the administrators of the program. If you’re not eligible then you can consider other resources and reach out to local churches, nonprofit organizations and charities.
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What Are The Programs That Help To Provide Free Beds For Children?
Families who are navigating financial hardship and unable to get a bed and mattress for their children can take advantage of the following resources to get free beds and mattresses.
Vincent de Paul Thrift store
Vincent de Paul Thrift store provides free beds for kids to needy and low-income people. But for this, the applicant must be in a financial crisis. Along with this, they have to fill the application form to get the free beds for kids. After filling the application form the applicant has to go through the screening process which is done by the Social Security Agency.
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Beds4Kids
Beds4kids is a non-profit organization that helps low-income families. They help the parents who need free beds for kids. They provide beds for kids at a cheap price and sometimes free of cost.
They provide many other things for kids like blankets, bedsheets, stuffed animals, books for kids according to their age, toothbrush, and pillows.
For qualifying for the bed you have to fulfill the eligibility criteria of the organization. So, first, check the eligibility criteria, then apply with the organization’s program Let’s check the eligibility criteria:
Eligibility For Free Beds
- The recipient must be in the age of 2 to 20 years old.
- The recipients must not have received help with the beds for kids in the past.
- Free beds for kids are given to only those recipients who are living in permanent housing or long-term housing.
- The recipient’s current place of residence must be bed-bug-free.
Love Inc.
Love Inc. is a nonprofit organization that works in partnership with local organizations and access low-income families and parents who are not in a position to purchase beds for their household. The organization also offers transportation and food assistance to needy families.
The mission of the organization is to mobilize the local resources to transform the communities and live in the name of Christ. The volunteers of the organization address the needs of low-income families and help them with a wide array of assistance.
The organization also provides vouchers that you can redeem for getting sleeping beds at no cost or low cost from local volunteers or partner stores. Mattresses and beds are a few giveaway furniture that the organization helps people with for families who are sleeping on the floor or sharing a bed with many household members.
Furniture For Families
Low-income families who are looking for free furniture including beds for their children can contact the Furniture for Families program and go through a screening process. Furniture for Families is a nonprofit organization that helps children and families with household items and furniture for free.
They provide a wide array of furniture and household items completely free particularly for families who are recovering from a disaster or transitioning out of homelessness. To request a free bed you can call at 916-635-0664.
It is a popular furniture bank that collects donated goods and serviceably used furniture and provides for free to low-income families, particularly children. The organization has assisted more than 4000 families with furniture and beds in the greater Sacramento CA area.
Samaritan House
The Samaritan House headquartered in Binghamton NY provides low-income children with free furniture, household goods and bedding.
However, it is important to note that the organization does not provide large appliances or foundations like refrigerators, stoves or dryers.
This support is available for families navigating financial hardship including a residency proof or government-issued ID. You can get furniture assistance once every six months.
Samaritan House is a leading organization that is assisting people to fight against poverty in San Mateo County and helping people remain well-clothed and housed. Working for 45 years the organization provides personalized support to the poor working class and helps them with food, clothing, housing and furniture assistance.
Sabathani Community Centre
Sabathani Community Center is the one-stop shop, from where anyone can get the item that they are looking for.
This agency has all the essential items that one needs in their daily life routine, and also they provide those products to needy people.
You can get all the things from them from food to clothes to school supplies to furniture and also holiday support, everything they have for the needy people.
Their biggest eligibility criterion is that the applicant must not have the proper bedding facility in their house, and if the applicant fulfills this criterion then they will get the free bunk bed for kids from the agency.
Hope To Dream
The Hope To Dream organization believes that every child should get a sound place to sleep and a bed of their own. The organization has been working since 2010 and provided numerous children with bed frames, twin mattresses, pillows and bedding.
With the assistance of the organization around 140,000 beds have been donated to children in need to improve their sleeping condition and make sure they lead a good quality of life. The organization has partnered with many other organizations to promote better night sleep among needy children.
Cribs For Kids
Situated at 457 Street in Binghamton NY, Cribs for Kids is an organization that offers cribs and even free beds for children belonging to low-income families. If you’re a parent unable to buy a bed for your family and children then you can seek assistance from this organization.
To qualify for free beds and portable crib assistance you need to meet certain eligibility criteria. The mission of the organization is to eliminate infant sleep-related deaths by educating caregivers and parents on the significance of practicing safe sleep for their kids with the help of portable cribs.
Houston Children’s Charity
Every child deserves to have a sound sleep at night but many unfortunate children in Houston TX fail to get the fundamental ingredients like box springs, mattresses, bed frames, clean sheets and blankets. The organization has designed A Better Night Sleep Program for needy children living in Houston.
Since its inception, the organization has successfully promoted peaceful nights for better sleep for children with special needs. Abused underprivileged and handicapped kids living in Greater Houston are covered by this charity and provided with bedding, back-to-school assistance, Christmas Assistance and clothing assistance.
Sleepyhead Beds
Established in 2010 the Sleepyhead Bed has provided more than 25,000 gently used donated and recycled beds to needy children in the Kansas City metro area who are unable to get a comfortable and sound place to sleep. The organization has provided 3 million nights of restful sleep to Kansas City children.
This is the only organization working in Kansas City that is focused on redistributing donated beds to needy families completely free of charge. The organization helps people with bed frames, box springs and mattresses. The eligibility criteria to receive a bed are to have a child who needs a bed, have an advocate and be a resident of the Kansas City Metro area.
National Furniture Banks
Needy families who need basic household necessities and furniture items such as beds are assisted by National Furniture Banks. Low-income families particularly those who are living below the poverty line can collect donated furniture items from these banks.
The banks receive donations of gently used furniture from generous donors and businesses including corporate sponsors and redistribute them to needy families who are not in a position to purchase a bed on their own. Parents who are unable to get a bed for their children can contact furniture banks and get help with essential items like beds, chairs, tables, dressers and many more.
Salvation Army Furniture Vouchers
The Salvation Army is a nonprofit organization that provides furniture voucher programs for low-income families in the United States of America and other parts of the world that help people with free furniture items including beds. Families who are navigating financial hardship must be referred by a social service agency to the Salvation Army.
On getting approval you will get a voucher that you can redeem at a local thrift store or warehouse for furniture items including beds and mattresses. The organization also arranges for free delivery of furniture items at home.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
A nonprofit organization known as Big Brothers Big Sisters offers mentorship programs for low-income children and youth. The primary focus of the organization is on mentorship so they provide help to families who are looking for a bed for their kids.
The free beds are redistributed to low-income families and children participating in the mentorship program or individuals who have contacted the organization for assistance with beds. Needy families who are interested in getting a free bed from the organization can contact their local agency and learn about the criteria in the application procedure.
Alternative Places To Find Low-Cost Or Free Beds And Mattresses For Children
Thrift Stores
Thrift stores have gently used beds and mattresses for sale at discounted rates. Low-income families who are not in a position to purchase a new bed for themselves and their children can get a used bed at lower costs. It is important to inspect the items carefully before buying from thrift stores.
Local Charities And Churches
There are local charities and churches in neighboring areas that can help you with free furniture items including beds and mattresses. These charities and churches receive donations from generous individuals and businesses so they can help you with the furniture item as per your need.
Craigslist
A classified website known as Craigslist is a place where people give away or sell items at low cost or for free. You can get low-cost or free beds and mattresses for your children by visiting the Craigslist website.
Freecycle
An online website known as Freecycle assists people by giving away items for free if they no longer need them and want to give them away for free to those who are in need. Low-income families in need of beds and mattresses can join a local group and browse the free listings to avail of a bed and mattress for their children free of cost.
Facebook Marketplace
Another online platform that helps people purchase and sell items for free or at low cost is Facebook Marketplace. Low-income families who are looking for beds and mattresses for their children can search for furniture items in their local area and filter as per their choice and price.
It is important to prioritize your safety while going for a used bed or mattress. Check for signs of wear and tear, bed bugs and stays before accepting them.
Free Beds from Yard sales and classifieds
When you want to have the free bunk bed for kids then you can look for the yard sales as well. Yard sales are the best option for looking for free or giveaway bunk beds.
You can find the yard sales around you because these sales are organized by the people in your neighborhood who don’t want to use the bunk beds anymore. In this way, they can get rid of their old bed and then buy new beds of the new brand and new style.
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Conclusion
Donated furniture items such as beds and mattresses are a great help for low-income families with children. A lot of families fail to purchase new furniture since most of their income is spent on basic necessities like food, education, shelter and health insurance. Fortunately, non-governmental organizations and charities assist them and help them with free beds and mattresses. Free beds for children provide a safe and comfortable place to sleep and enable families to make a fresh start the next day.
Are you interested to learn about more foundations and charities that help people with financial needs? Read more about Get Government Grants’ resources today.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can organizations help with free beds for kids ?
The organizations and agencies avail of free bunk beds for kids that are safe and good to use. They first check the beds and after that provide them to the people. Those organizations take care of everything and for this, they do full sanitization of beds and mattresses as well.
Are There Any Organizations That Focuses Especially On Providing Bed And Furniture For Children?
Yes, there are a lot of organizations and charities that provide furniture items and beds for children belonging to low-income families. For instance, the Sleep in Heaven is a nonprofit organization that constructs and delivers bunk beds to children in need. You can check the website to avail a local chapter in your area.
How Can I Find A Nonprofit Or Society That Offers Free Beds Or Furniture?
A lot of nonprofit organizations, faith-based groups and local charities provide low-cost or free furniture including beds and mattresses to families in need. Apart from the above-mentioned resources, there are many other organizations that you can turn to in times of your needs such as the Habitat for Humanity ReStore, St. Vincent de Paul, Goodwill, Salvation Army and so on.
