from floors to foundations: Happy Hauler helps families make-a-home
A bed to sleep in instead of a bare floor.
A kitchen table for enjoying family meals.
A comfy couch for family movie nights and bedtime stories.
For families transitioning from unsheltered homelessness or emergency shelter to permanent housing, these simple necessities are transformational—turning empty apartments into places where families can truly heal, grow, and thrive.
This is the powerful impact of Mary's Place Make-a-Home program, which now furnishes homes for over 25 families each month who would otherwise be sleeping on bare floors despite securing housing. The program continues to grow providing essential furnishings that transform empty spaces into true homes where families can rebuild their lives with dignity.
The Make-a-Home program was born from a sobering realization: families were finally securing housing but sleeping on bare floors, without beds, tables, or even basic cookware. "We saw a lot of families finally in housing, but they were living on the floor," shares Olga, the program's coordinator. "Some families don't have a car to transport furniture, and many are on limited income where they need to prioritize rent and food."
Happy Hauler stands out as one of the crucial partnerships that makes this vital program successful. Led by owner John, Happy Hauler plays an essential role in ensuring families receive complete home furnishing sets on their very move-in day. John and his team respond with urgency when Olga provides lists of families, understanding that "people need these items tomorrow."
"What drives me every day is seeing the immediate difference a furnished home makes," John explains. "These families have fought so hard for housing—they deserve to sleep in beds, not on floors. We're delivering dignity and a foundation for their new beginning. That's why we're committed to responding as quickly as possible when Olga calls us with a new family in need."
The impact of this partnership shines brightest in stories like the young couple with a medically fragile son in a wheelchair. When they finally secured housing just as their son was recovering from major surgery, anxiety threatened to overshadow their joy. Would their child have to recover on the floor? With one phone call to John, who immediately cleared his schedule, their apartment was fully furnished by noon on moving day. "It gave them one less thing to worry about during a huge life transition," reflects Olga. "Having furniture in your home restores dignity. It turns survival into stability. For this family, it meant their son could recover from surgery in his own bed."
For John, the families who stick with him the most are parents who’ve escaped domestic violence, often times with just the clothes on their backs. “I remember one woman, who told me she left at a moment’s notice with her kids. Not only did she leave their home behind, but all their keepsakes, clothes, pots and pans, everything” shares John, “each time we came up to the apartment on move-in day with another load, she would cry. After feeling so isolated in her previous situation, she was overwhelmed with the kindness and support she felt from community members who donated furniture, decorations, clothing, even dry goods for her and her children. It was really meaningful to have the opportunity to help her and her children start a new chapter in a furnished home, and more importantly, to show them they’re not alone.”
Through partnerships like the one with Happy Hauler, Mary's Place doesn't just provide shelter—we help families build true homes where they can heal from the trauma of homelessness, build new routines and memories, and create the stability their children need to thrive. Together, with our partners like John, we create peace of mind, a sense of belonging, and a solid foundation for families to build their new futures—one furnished home at a time!
Want to learn more about the partnership between Make-a-Home and Happy Hauler? Check out a recent episode of the Home Matters podcast featuring Olga and John! In this episode they share their personal stories and their “why” for furnishing homes for families! Listen here.