Patriots and Paws provides practical home goods and furnishings to Veterans, Active Duty and Reservists at no cost with our Furnishings for Patriots Program.  

These services ensure that Veterans transitioning out of homelessness or recovering from hardship move into stable, livable homes with dignity and support. 

We serve Southern California. Our Paws Program is working on creating a kennel where the same demographics can kennel their animals at no cost, when they have a need. 

Veterans served by our program are often exiting homelessness or facing medical and mental health crises. Without household essentials, their path to recovery is delayed and destabilized.

By furnishing homes for over 3000 Veteran households annually, we help restore dignity, prevent relapse into homelessness, and support reintegration into the community.

Patriots and Paws primarily serves U.S. military Veterans, Reservists, and their families transitioning into permanent housing.

Many of our clients are working-age adults referred by VA caseworkers or partner agencies and face ongoing challenges related to PTSD, injury recovery, or housing insecurity.

Our program meets them at a critical turning point by providing practical support that stabilizes their environment and promotes successful reintegration. 

The Furnishings for Patriots program provides urgently needed household furnishings and essential items to Veterans, Active Duty service members, Reservists, and their families transitioning out of homelessness or recovering from trauma.

 

Objectives of the program include:

 

* Alleviate human suffering by helping military families furnish and stabilize their homes.

* Serve at least 3000 Veteran households annually with high-need home goods.

* Remove a critical barrier to recovery and reintegration by providing items like beds, tables, cookware, and small appliances.

* Partner with VA caseworkers and housing providers to ensure support reaches Veterans during critical transition periods.

* Promote long-term housing retention, emotional recovery, and self-sufficiency by creating safe, functional home environments.

 

This program is designed to meet Veterans and their families at a fragile turning point–ensuring they are not forced to sleep on floors, eat without utensils, or live in unsafe, unfurnished spaces after finally securing housing.

 

Patriots and Paws operates a streamlined fulfillment and mobile warehouse model powered by donations, staff, and volunteers.

Three core implementation actions include:

1. Intake and Needs Assessment

* Veterans are referred by VA social workers, transitional housing programs, and partner agencies.

* Staff conducts intake calls to determine the specific needs of each household (e.g., beds, couches, kitchenware).

 

2. Fulfillment and Logistics Coordination

* Items are sourced from our inventory of donated goods.

* Staff and volunteers prepare orders, coordinate warehouse pickup or truck delivery, and schedule transport.

 

3. Pickup and Impact Monitoring

* Our team coordinates pickups for clients in more remote areas.

* Recipients are invited to complete post-service surveys evaluating service quality, satisfaction, and stability outcomes.

 

Additional processes include warehouse maintenance, inventory tracking, and volunteer coordination to support the program’s day-to-day operations.

 

We evaluate success using both quantitative metrics and qualitative feedback from Veterans and partner agencies.

 

Key criteria include:

* Number of Veteran households served annually (target: 3000+)

* Timeliness of support (goal: 80% of referrals fulfilled within 14 days)

* Post-service satisfaction rate (target: 95% report improved stability and well-being)

* Reduced likelihood of housing loss or decline in quality of life following intervention.

 

Surveys are distributed after appointments, and follow-up interviews are conducted with referring caseworkers when appropriate.

In 2024, 94% of surveyed recipients said the furnishings provided “significantly improved” their quality of life.

 

Over 85% indicated they would have otherwise gone without beds or basic furniture.

 

This data reinforces our belief that direct material support at the right moment can help prevent relapse into homelessness or health crises.

 

We track and analyze all service metrics quarterly.

 

Patriots and Paws collaborates with a wide network of formal and informal partners including:

 

* VA Social Workers & HUD-VASH Programs: Referrals and ongoing communication about Veteran needs.

* Transitional Housing Agencies: Coordinate support as Veterans move into permanent housing.

* Local Furniture Banks & Retailers: Receive donated goods and discounted inventory.

* Faith-Based and Civic Groups: Provide volunteer labor and organize furniture drives.

* Military Family Resource Networks: Outreach to Reservists and National Guard families in need.

 

These partnerships amplify our capacity, reduce overhead, and ensure every dollar goes further.

 

They also help us identify high-need individuals and families who would otherwise fall through the cracks.

 

We meet regularly with regional partner organizations to refine our services and coordinate outreach.

 

The Furnishings for Patriots program has been operating since 2011.

 

It was created after our founder observed a major gap: newly housed Veterans had secured a roof over their heads but lacked the basic furnishings needed to live with dignity.

 

Over the last 14 years, we’ve furnished the homes of over 18,000 Veterans and their families.

 

Our system now includes a warehouse facility, mobile warehouse units, and a dedicated team of staff and volunteers.

 

Most of our clients are referred directly by VA caseworkers or housing program staff.

 

They often move into completely empty apartments–with no beds, chairs, tables, or cooking equipment.

 

We help fill that gap within days.

 

The program is well-established, scalable, and cost-efficient, with the ability to grow based on funding and demand.

 

Our warehouse model, donation-based inventory, and flexible pickup system allow us to quickly mobilize support where it’s needed most.

 

Patriots and Paws maintains a highly-leveraged service model that turns in-kind support into immediate household stability for Veterans.

FY-2024 audited revenue was $4.2 M, of which 86 % ($3.6 M) represented donated furniture, supplies, and pro-bono professional services recorded at GAAP value. 

 

Cash gifts and small grants provided the remaining 14 %, covering essential cash costs (warehouse rent, fuel, insurance, two full-time and five part-time staff). Administrative expenses were only 0.7 % of total spend thanks to an all-volunteer board and extensive community partnerships. 

 

Net assets grew to $1.6 M, giving roughly five months of operating liquidity while allowing rapid deployment of goods. The FY-2025 budget ($3.9 M) mirrors this efficient cost structure and aligns with audited trends. No program assets secure debt; the only long-term liability is a modest $140 K loan serviced from operating cash. The organization holds no endowment and has no related-party transactions.