Listen to MIH talking with The NonProfit Podcast Network

Getting housing is a major milestone for a young person transitioning out of foster care, homelessness, or the juvenile justice system. But what happens when they walk into that apartment and there’s nothing inside?

No bed. No table. No dishes. No towels. No basic furniture.

In this podcast, Jan Judson, founder and board president of Make It Happen for Yolo County, and executive director Cathi Schmidt talk to The NonProfit Podcast Network about the often-overlooked issue of furniture poverty and the impact it can have on dignity, stability, mental health, and independence.

Make It Happen for Yolo County serves transition-age youth between 16 and 24 who are connected to Yolo County. Through referrals from partner organizations, the team provides the furniture, household goods, small appliances, bicycles, and everyday essentials needed to turn an empty apartment into a functional home.

What began informally in a garage has grown into an organization that served 12 youth in its first year and is working toward serving 72 this year. Along the way, Make It Happen for Yolo County has built partnerships with social workers, CASA programs, schools, nonprofit organizations, community groups, volunteers, and donors.

Jan and Cathi also share some of the stories that make this work so powerful: young adults using cardboard boxes as desks and dining tables, a young man sleeping on the floor with his backpack as a pillow, and former foster youth who have gone on to graduate school, meaningful careers, and lives of service to others.

It’s a conversation about much more than furniture. It’s about dignity, choice, belonging, and what it really takes to help a young person build a stable life.