By Eddy Ameen, PhD, Chief Program Officer

In 2018, the World Health Organization published guidelines for healthy housing across the globe. They wrote, “Housing can expose people to a number of health risks,” but they did not mention the presence or absence of furniture as having any bearing on health.

We find that to be a glaring oversight. At A Wider Circle, we see every day how furniture is a critical piece of the health equation. For a house to truly function like a home and support health, people need basic furnishings: A bed to sleep in, a table to eat at, and a chair to rest on.

While most research on housing and health stops at the roofline, we have dug deeper. In 2024 and 2025, we spoke with families waiting for furniture appointments. We followed up with more than 200 families about a month after receiving furniture from us, and interviewed several in depth. We also commissioned a national study of furniture poverty prevalence with more than 1,000 households.

Our work shows that furnishings are essential parts of our health. Furniture poverty (the inability to afford to acquire or maintain essential furnishings) thus becomes a significant issue for mental, physical, and social well-being.

Furniture’s Impact on Mental Health

Our research shows that living without essential furnishings creates emotional strain, stress, and instability. In interviews with clients waiting for furniture appointments:

• 7 in 10 said they felt constantly on edge or unable to relax.
• 6 in 10 reported emotional discomfort such as stress, anxiety, or dissatisfaction.

From our national survey, many respondents described feelings of depression, anxiety, and a loss of motivation. An unfurnished home often created a sense of instability or shame. One person said, “It affects my ability to focus” and another said, “It’s hard to feel like you belong somewhere when there’s nothing in the home.”

In-depth client stories shed more light on these challenges. Elena (all names have been changed), a single mother escaping domestic violence, described how missing furniture left her stressed and unsettled. Receiving beds, a couch, desks, and lamps from A Wider Circle “helped calm stress” and “pull my mind together.” Knowing her children had beds improved her peace of mind and sense of safety.

Tatiana explained how an unfurnished home after a flood disrupted daily life and heightened stress. After receiving furniture, she said: “It made my household more like home… it felt more like a home than it was before.” This comfort eased emotional strain for both her and her children.

Gordon, a veteran who used the GI bill to purchase his first home, noted after receiving furniture restored his dignity, belonging, and confidence. He said, “it lifts my self-esteem… it gives me pride.”

Furniture’s Impact on Physical Health

Lacking basic furniture often produces real physical discomfort and health risks. In our spring 2025 interviews:

• 8 in 10 reported body aches such as back, neck, or shoulder pain.
• 7 in 10 had trouble sleeping.
• 3 in 10 said their children struggled to complete homework without a table or desk.

Our national study confirmed these impacts. Missing beds, couches, chairs and related items caused pain, poor sleep, and physical strain. This was especially true for children, older adults, and people with disabilities. One respondent said, “A comfortable bed is needed for a good night’s rest” while another said, “My baby rolled off the air mattress.” A third wrote, “I was using a broken chair and got hurt.”

Our own clients’ stories bring this link to life. Elena found that having a proper bed and seating improved her rest and reduced physical strain, allowing her to recover and focus on education despite her physical disability. Tatiana noted that beds for her children and a table for meals and homework allowed for better sleep and more comfort, which supported her family’s daily functioning. And Gordon described how getting a bed reduced his physical strain and improved sleep quality, and how having a proper dining table improved comfort while eating, contributing to better nutrition.

Furniture’s Impact on Social Health

Furniture insufficiency can erode aspects of social health, including social connection and family life. Without furnishings, people often avoid hosting guests, lose a sense of belonging, and face barriers to daily routines. From our interviews:

• 7 in 10 were unable or unwilling to host others in their home.
• 5 in 10 said furniture poverty made it hard to stay organized.

Our national study similarly found that many avoided inviting friends or family over due to embarrassment, increasing social isolation and loneliness. One survey-taker said, “I couldn’t have my kids visit” whereas another said, “I was ashamed to have anyone over.” Without desks, tables, or storage, daily routines became harder and important life transitions were delayed. Representing this idea, we heard from one person “I waited to move in until I had furniture” and another shared, “I couldn’t do my job search until I had a table.”

Elena, Tatiana, and Gordon made similar echoes. Elena described how receiving furniture created a safe home where her children could rest and feel comfortable, fostering family connection. Tatiana described how furniture enabled her children to feel secure and supported, and allowed her to re-engage in family life. She noted, “It made my household more like a home.” Gordon then highlighted how furniture changed his ability to connect with others: “Now I invite my brother over…it gave me a sense of belonging.”

A Call to Action

At A Wider Circle, we are committed to closing the furniture poverty gap through the redistribution of goods and through scientific inquiry. Every piece of furniture we give is much more than an item: Our research shows that the physical health, the mental health, and social health of our world depends in substantial part on access to dignity-condition furniture.

Furnishing a home is not a luxury but essential to many dimensions of health.

Learn more about our industry-leading research on furniture poverty and consider making a donation to further this work.

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