COMMUNITY PROFILE TURNING HOUSES INTO HOMES How Gracefull Home is helping individuals transition out of homelessness STORY BY JAMIE MILLER EMILYJANE ZAHREDDINE, FOUNDER OF GRACEFULL HOME, SITTING AMOUNGST THEIR FURNITURE IN THEIR WARHOUSE IN JUNE, 2024 | PHOTO COURTESY OF KEVIN J. BEATY/DENVERITE DENVER GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS have set the ambitious goal of transitioning 2,000 homeless individuals into permanent housing this year. This is part of Mike Johnson’s All In Mile High initiative, which has moved thousands of people into shelters or housing since its conception on his election day in 2023. But the challenges don’t stop once individuals have a roof over their heads. Individuals transitioning out of homelessness often struggle with social exclusion and challenges developing a sense of belonging, according to a study done by PLOS One Research. Gracefull Home, the only Denver-metro non-profit furniture bank, is working to help individuals find community by turning empty housing into furnished homes. “At Gracefull Home, we believe that everybody deserves community. One way to have community is to have space and furniture in your home for other people to join you,” said founder EmilyJane Zahreddine. The organization partners with Denver-area socialservice providers to identify eligible individuals, who are then brought to the 17,000-square foot warehouse for a 45-minute shopping appointment where they get to pick out all the furniture items needed to fill a standard home. The experience is personalized depending on the size of the home and number of individuals living in it. Gracefull employees do same-day delivery, moving items directly into the individual’s home — all at zero cost. “I always encourage individuals to think about what they want to come home to at the end of a long day. I ask them to spread out on the couches to get a feel for them. That is usually when they get a look on their face, when they realize that they are really getting furniture and it is at no cost to them,” Zahreddine said. “It is really special.” Furniture is sourced from donations from surrounding Denver areas, based on a tax-deductable cost model where donors pay $500 for pickup of 7.5 cubic yards-worth of items, or $350 for Saturday drop-offs. “I believe that one part of our community has enough resources to support the part of our community that does not have enough,” she said. Zahreddine, now self proclaimed “couch matchmaker” has always been a civil servant through her career as an Emergency Preparedness professional for Arlington 8 DENVER VOICE March 2025
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