Not all angels have wings. Sometimes they have impeccable style, a penchant for interior design, and a strong sense of community. Sometimes they have trucks full of three-seater sofas and love seats. Such is the case with Josh Underhill’s Family Furniture, a local three-generation family business serving our community since 1946. And Broadview is grateful for these local angels.

Our Broadview Emergency Shelter and Transitional Housing for survivors of domestic violence houses over 375 women and children annually – 31 families at any given time. Unlike many shelters that feature large shared rooms, all of our units are fully furnished with amenities that welcome families into a private space that becomes their new home.

A welcoming home is crucial to providing a dedicated, secure space where families can heal together from the trauma of homelessness and domestic violence. As such, Broadview is not only a secure safe haven for families, but a place to regroup and formulate next steps to achieve stability and self-sufficiency. Feeling safe and at peace at home is critical to their healing. This is why the incredible support of Josh Underhill’s Family Furniture is so important to Solid Ground, Broadview, and the wider Seattle community.

This past month our apartments and common areas at Broadview underwent an amazing transformation. Underhill’s sent along their own angels – a team of five who not only dropped off new couches and assembled them, but also took care of the hauling and disposal of the old furniture.

Breathing new life into a space of healing and support has such a profound effect on those who call Broadview home for a year, or even a week, and creates an important sense of pride and stability for these survivors of domestic violence.

None of this would have been possible without the collaborative support from both Josh Underhill’s Family Furniture and the Employee Community Fund (ECF) of Boeing Puget Sound. ECF’s Capital Needs grant provided the funding necessary to purchase these 31 couches. Underhill’s worked closely with us to negotiate a fair price from the factory and included delivery and haul away/disposal in their bid. Here at Solid Ground we work to build community to end poverty – so moments like these replenish our gratitude for the generosity of our community members. Because of community-minded companies like Underhill and Boeing, we can celebrate success and reflect on the value of community-based collaboration and support. Connecting local businesses with real opportunities to contribute to their neighborhood in a meaningful way not only brings us together in shared responsibility, but shows the families at Broadview that they are a valued and integral part of our wider community.

A big thanks to our angels at Josh Underhill’s Family Furniture and Employee Community Fund of Boeing Puget Sound from all of us at Solid Ground! We look forward to continuing to build our relationship and support our shared community.

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Featured image at top: Josh Underhill, left, carries one of 31 new sofas into Broadview with his staff members.