The furniture bank will help people in housing need. There are 20,000 of them in Prague alone – ČT24 – Czech Television
Michal Václavík’s girlfriend and child died in a car accident. He was left alone, he wanted to change the environment. But he is unable to find housing in Prague, only the Salvation Army helped him. “It’s been a year and a half for me, but with the fact that I wanted to, I found a job at a security agency. Today, I am the administrator of the entire hall, with the proviso that I will be proof of all the furniture, “described Michal Václavík.
The former builder is most pleased to be able to help himself now. He started operating a furniture bank with colleagues on Wednesday. “With this help, they can get to their feet and reintegrate into society,” he said.
For example, those interested in appliances must meet the basic condition of cooperating with any social service. But there are exceptions. “If, after consulting with the director, we evaluate that it is a family that needs material help and is not connected to the service, we have no problem helping it,” said Tomáš Valenta, head of Nábytková banka in Prague.
The hall has been filling up since morning. Donated furniture must be in good condition or with only minor repairs. Brand new beds were donated to the bank by a private company, other equipment came from the hospital or the Olga Havel Foundation.
“We have known for a long time that there is a group of individuals in Prague who are considering whether to buy equipment for an apartment such as a cot or pay rent,” said Milena Johnová, a councilor for health and social policy, in Prague.
Aid is targeted at up to 20,000 people in Prague alone
According to the director of the Center for Social Services in Prague, Martin Šimáček, 20,000 people in the capital alone need similar support. “Every year, more than a thousand young people who need to live have come out of alternative care institutions, and a quarter of them are prospectively homeless. That means you need help, “he said.
Similarly, it operates the furniture bank Brno. Although he ended up in Liberec due to financial problems, she would have replaced another service in February.