Our History

The Furniture Bank of Houston was established in 1992 when Oli Mohammed, then an employee of Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County (MHMRA), wanted to provide previously-enjoyed home furnishings to the mentally disabled.  He also wanted to help homeless families who had received housing assistance but had no furniture.

When the State lost funding the MHMRA could no longer support The Furniture Bank so it became an independent 501©3 non-profit organization on September 1, 2003.

Today, Oli Mohammed is the Furniture Bank's executive director.  He and his staff of volunteers and employees service the furniture needs of over 70 nonprofit charitable agencies within the Houston area.

Since it’s inception The Furniture Bank has serviced over 18,000 families with household goods.

The charitable agencies send needy individuals and families that are living at the extreme poverty levels to The Furniture Bank and who are struggling with a variety of issues, which include:

• physical and mental disabilities,
• senior citizens with little or no income,
• victims of domestic violence,
• single parents with children,
• people recovering from chemical dependency,
• veterans,
• refugees,
• individuals suffering from AIDS,
• natural disaster victims like Katrina and Rita

Oli often says, “Furniture is a critical stepping stone to improve living conditions and elevate an individual’s personal pride and dignity. To thrive, humans require simple creature comforts.”

The Furniture Bank offers these creature comforts through previously enjoyed bedroom, living room, and dining room furniture along with kitchen utensils and toys.

A few of the charitable agencies well known in the Houston area that are now served by The Furniture Bank: MHMRA, Star of Hope, Child Protective Services.