How Furnish with Love is giving families transitioning out of homelessness a fresh start

By Michael J. Pallerino

Kathleen Kelly sits with people whose paths to housing instability are as varied as they are challenging. Some are survivors of domestic violence or sex trafficking, while others have fought long battles against addiction or the grip of community violence. Yet, with every person she meets, Kathleen sees something greater than their pain—she sees a remarkable blend of resilience, strength and hope that has carried them this far.

As the founder of Furnish with Love (FwL)—a nonprofit she started in 2019 that helps transform empty housing into uplifting homes for families transitioning out of homelessness—her commitment has woven together countless stories of transformation.

Through community action and coordination with a number of community and business partners, Furnish with Love helps furnish homes for families by donating furniture, mattresses, kitchen and home décor items. “Our mission from the first day has been to provide an Atlanta where every family has a home in which they can thrive.”

While based in Decatur, Furnish with Love currently serves families in DeKalb, Fulton, Cobb and Gwinnett counties with one part-time employee and a team of dedicated, passionate volunteers. For example, local businesses step up as sponsors, with some designating FwL as beneficiaries of their event proceeds. Thanks to community partnerships, social workers and caseworkers at partner nonprofit agencies nominate families for FwL gifts, while local designer showrooms showrooms donate product that is both for family homes and sold at deep discounts to raise funds for the cause. FwL partners include ADAC, AmericasMart and No Vacancy Home Staging, all of which provide invaluable connections to the greater Atlanta community.

“The Decatur community has been tremendously supportive, embracing our mission with open arms,” Kathleen says. “People contribute generously with their time, skills and resources. This support from every corner of Decatur fuels our work and reminds us how strong our community truly is. Our goal is to increase the number of families we can help by growing our network of volunteers, donors and partnerships with an eye on expanding its capacity to serve families across the metro Atlanta area.”

How it works
Turning a house into a home begins well before the first box is packed. Once a family completes their housing program and secures a place to live, partnering agencies reach out to Furnish with Love to help transform the empty space into a warm, welcoming sanctuary. The journey starts with a home visit, where staff and volunteers meet the family to understand their unique needs, personal style, favorite colors and dreams for their new space.

From gathering home furnishings donated by individuals, stores and design houses, to collecting linens, cookware and décor, every detail is thoughtfully curated. Volunteer designers dive into what they call the “designer challenge,” shopping FwL’s downtown Decatur warehouse, affectionately called, the “Hive.” With creativity and resourcefulness, the family’s style and needs are matched with available items, often requiring repainting of furniture, crafting artwork and restoring pieces to bring each vision to life.

Kathleen says that each Furnish with Love family is treated by the volunteer designers and team like any interior design client. Each is asked how they use their space, what colors inspire them and what styles they like. In addition, functionality is a top priority, including things like ensuring school-age children have dedicated desks where they can focus on homework, and a dining set where families can gather and share meals, etc.

For parents, thoughtfully designed “home hubs” include essentials like a key dish or rack, a bulletin board for school reminders and a clock to keep everyone on schedule. “We also make it a point to honor specific requests when possible—whether it’s a spacious table for a parent’s T-shirt printing business, a few balcony chairs for moments of outdoor relaxation or even a stepladder to make kitchen storage easier to reach,” Kathleen says.

The culmination is “Nesting Day.” Beginning at dawn, the team loads a moving truck with the carefully selected pieces and sets out to install everything from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The day concludes with the family’s first look at their home. “While quality furniture is always our main focus, the finishing touches truly make a difference,” Kathleen says. “Throw pillows, artwork on the walls, window treatments and a gallery of family photos transform the space, turning a house into a home filled with warmth and personality.”

This past December, Furnish with Love installed its 50th home—a milestone that launched a new mission for 2025, and beyond. Thanks to an end of the year fundraising campaign dubbed, “50 Homes, 50 New Beginnings,” the FWL team is preparing to support the next 50 families. Persons interested in supporting the campaign can donate on the FWL website, or by volunteering time, donating furniture, purchasing from a wish list or sponsoring a family’s home makeover.

“Every contribution makes a real impact and helps to create more transformative success stories,” Kathleen says. “The support from every corner of Decatur fuels our work and reminds us how strong our community truly is.”

For more information or to make a donation, visit furnishwithlove.org.