300,000. That is the estimated number of children in our city who sleep on the floor. That’s nearly 13% of Houston’s overall population.
Having a soft place to lay your head at night is something many of us take for granted. But for the vulnerable children and families in our city, the gift of a bed can mean so much—providing dignity, worth, and security. Our guest for this conversation is passionate about imparting this dignity to the children of Houston by providing mattresses and other furniture to families in need.
Oli Mohammad is the Executive Director and founding force behind the Houston Furniture Bank, a nonprofit working to ensure that no child sleeps on the floor in our city. Originally from Bangladesh, Oli moved to the USA in 1987. He is a passionate community builder with decades of leadership experience, a heart for service, and an enduring belief that dignity begins at home.
The Houston Furniture Bank is a valuable partner of The Riverside Project through our Response Network. We’re proud and grateful to be one of the 92 organizations they are connected with throughout the Houston area.
In this episode, you’ll hear the innovation behind The Furniture Bank’s many initiatives, how poverty can go beyond material items, the power of treating our neighbors with dignity and respect, and much more.
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Key Takeaways
- It’s about more than just providing mattresses. The model at The Furniture Bank is truly unique. While they started out repurposing gently used mattresses and other furniture, they are now providing solutions for families through a multitude of methods. They not only donate gently used mattresses, but they also refurbish and recycle mattresses that would otherwise be in too poor of a condition to use. Their resale store brings in income to further support families in need. This is a prime example of what it means to work together to offer support and solutions all along The River.
- Poverty goes beyond material things. A lack of material items can certainly be one of the most easily visible impacts of poverty. However, there are other types of poverty that are just as damaging—and these often come as a by-product of not having your basic needs met. These include things like spiritual poverty, emotional poverty, and relational poverty. Oli prompted us in this conversation to pause and consider what damage is being done when we, as a society, fail to provide for the basic needs of a child.
- Everyone can do something. Supporting vulnerable children and families in Houston is a community effort. We cannot do this alone. At The Furniture Bank, their efforts depend on individuals and organizations donating their furniture, shopping at the resale store, and donating their time. You don’t have to have a lot to do a lot. We can all do something, and volunteering your time to any of the wonderful organizations in our city is a great place to start.
Resources
- Learn more about the Houston Furniture Bank
- Watch Oli in the AS ONE Documentary: “Dignity”
- Thanks for listening! Use code “TBRIpodcast” to get $5 off when you sign up for an Introduction to TBRI session. If you work personally or professionally with children who have experienced adversity, learn more about TBRI on our Trauma Training page.
Meet the Guest
Oli Mohammad is the Executive Director and founding force behind the Houston Furniture Bank, a nonprofit working to ensure that no child sleeps on the floor in our city. Originally from Bangladesh, Oli moved to the USA in 1987 after earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science. His early work spans international development with the United Nations and World Bank Group before shifting into social impact work in Houston, Texas. Oli is a passionate community builder who brings decades of leadership, a heart for service, and an enduring belief that dignity begins at home.