Founded in 1998, Furniture Bank is a registered charity and social enterprise which redistributes gently-used furniture and housewares from donors in the community to families and individuals experiencing furniture poverty.

Toronto’s recycling and compost system means that 85% of residential waste can be recycled, composted or otherwise diverted from disposal. The 15% “leftover” includes items like unrecyclable disposable products, packaging, broken toys, furniture and construction materials. Fortunately, successful examples are showing that these materials don’t need to end up in the garbage bag.

Furniture Bank Opens in new window generates revenue through its professional furniture removal services and through the sale of refurbished furniture.

Furniture Bank was started in 1996 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Toronto who were helping refugees find housing through their shelter program. Furniture Bank now generates revenue and furniture donations through its professional furniture removal services. Collected furniture is housed at the Furniture Bank’s 26,000-square-foot warehouse, where clients can browse and select the items needed for their home. Donated furniture in need of small repairs is made usable by Furniture Bank’s workshop and placed on the floor for client selection. Furniture Bank Studio also refurbishes damaged pieces or those which are less functional. These items are sold to generate additional revenues for the charity. The organization currently has 52 full-time employees.

It develops the circular economy by:

- keeping quality furniture in circulation

- repairing furniture so it doesn’t become waste

- allowing people without financial resources to have higher quality and more durable pieces.

Furniture Bank has a social procurement grant through the City of Toronto to provide clients in social housing with free furniture and home goods. Furniture Bank Toronto is currently working with Furniture Link Inc. — whose mandate is to create commercial alliances — to increase the flow of usable goods acquired from businesses without additional costs to the charity.

As a centre of excellence and the lead member of the newly formed North American Furniture Bank Network, Furniture Bank Toronto actively shares its experiences and best practices with other furniture banks to help them increase their capacity. It is currently supporting the city of Barrie with the expansion of its local furniture bank, which is run in collaboration with Redwood Park Communities.

Notable numbers

- $11.11 social ROI to the community per dollar invested

- 602,000 pieces of furniture redistributed

- 250,000 cubic metres of furniture diverted from landfill

- 42,000 families provided with the furniture needed to assemble a home