By Sophia Filipiak

Many of us have spent a night or two lounging on an old hand-me-down couch.  It might have a few mystery stains here and there—maybe some unsightly scratches from an ornery cat, but it’s comfortable, sturdy and, most importantly, reliable.  This chair, couch or other possibly outdated heirloom furniture was probably passed down from a parent, aunt or other family member who decided to upgrade to something more fashionable.  This is a classic story familiar to college students and newlyweds, but for many, the simple necessity of functional furniture is out of reach. Countless young adults in northeast Ohio find themselves struggling to acquire basic home-furnishing necessities after aging out of the foster care system.  One organization is on a mission to furnish the homes of these recent foster graduates. 

Maria Paparella, the founder and executive director of Chair-ity, saw the struggle aged-out youth face once they are no longer financially supported by the foster care system.  While some foster graduates are invited to remain with their foster family after the state of Ohio revokes its financial support, others are very suddenly forced to find an apartment at 18 years old.  Paparella’s goal is to ease the burden young people face when they are abruptly uprooted from their home and forced to move into an unfurnished apartment. Many foster graduates do not even have the means to purchase a mattress to sleep on when they leave the system.  Chair-ity acquires and redistributes furniture to foster graduates in need.  Paparella and her team have been able to fully furnish many Ohio homes and apartments for those who are struggling.  “We’re making a really big impact in areas that are overlooked and underserved,” says Paparella. 

Jaz Robinson, Chair-ity’s program manager, explains that “this specific population of young adults kind of slips through the cracks.”  While many programs exist to help children in foster care, few programs are actively working to solve the problems these same young people face when they have aged out of the system.  “At 18, you are technically an adult,” says Robinson, “but the world is not that easy and straightforward.”  While most people still rely on the support of their relatives as they gradually transition into adulthood, those who grew up in foster care may be very suddenly expected to take on the personal responsibilities of being an adult.  “We try to fill the gap that’s missing for these kids,” says Robinson, who explains that Chair-ity steps in to emulate a family member who would normally provide hand-me-down furniture. 

Robinson highlights that there are layers to the issue of foster graduates lacking financial resources to reliably support themselves.  “Seventy percent of women who age out of foster care are pregnant by 21,” explains Robinson.  “This year alone, 50% of the young adults we served have children.”  This means that the children of foster graduates are also being negatively impacted by a lack of financial support the foster care system once provided them as minors. 

One particular family from eastern Cuyahoga County that was helped by Chair-ity was a young, single mother and her hearing-impaired daughter.  With a lack of support from the government, this mother and daughter spent many nights couch surfing (staying with a series of different friends or relatives, sleeping somewhere temporary such as a couch, because you do not have your own place to live) before they finally found stability in their very own apartment.  One major problem foster graduates who are under 21 run into is being denied living space rentals because they do not have a co-signer.  Luckily, the mother and her child were able to find an apartment complex that did not require a co-signer.  This is where Chair-ity steps in to help and, through generous community donations, was able to fully furnish the family’s apartment. 

This past week, a pregnant foster graduate from Lake County did not even have a mattress to sleep on.  Chair-ity accommodated the young mother by ensuring she had a bed after her move-in date changed to a much earlier time.  They were desperate to give her this simple necessity many take for granted so she did not have to sleep on the floor before giving birth.  The rest of the apartment was later furnished by Chair-ity.  Robinson explains that owning a bed to sleep on is the basis of human dignity.  For this reason, mattresses and bed frames are the only items that Chair-ity does not accept in used donations and instead are purchased brand new. 

Chair-ity has pickup sites in Summit and Cuyahoga County.  Most of the redistributed furniture is donated directly by members of the community.   Monetary donations and donor purchases through Chair-ity’s Amazon wish list help the organization acquire additional furniture for those in need.  “It takes a team effort,” exclaims Robinson.  Everyone faces their own set of struggles as they come of age.   Having limited access to basic home furnishings should not be one of them. Chair-ity is working to change that. 

For more information or to inquire about donating, please visit https://www.chair-ity.org. 

~Photos provided by Chair-ity