Last updated: May 20, 2026
Bottom line
Delaware does not have one statewide furniture grant for single mothers. The real path is usually a mix of 211 referrals, shelter or rehousing case managers, State Service Centers, furniture ministries, thrift stores, diaper programs, and neighbor-to-neighbor groups.
Start with Delaware 211 if you need a local referral. Use Centralized Intake if you are homeless, in a motel, sleeping in a car, or leaving an unsafe home. Use the Delaware help guide when you need a wider plan for food, rent, child care, health coverage, or cash help.
If you need help today
- Immediate danger: Call 911.
- No safe place to sleep: Call or text 1-833-FIND-BED (1-833-346-3233) through Housing Alliance Delaware, or ask Delaware 211 to connect you.
- Domestic violence: Use the DV hotline list. Hotlines are 24/7 and can help with shelter and safety resources.
- Emergency shelter help: The state says you can call 211, text your ZIP code to 898-211, visit a State Service Center, or contact a shelter or day center for help reaching Centralized Intake through the shelter page.
- Need benefits too: Use Delaware ASSIST to apply for or manage SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, child care, WIC, and other benefits.
This guide is informational only. If safety, eviction, custody, immigration, medical, or legal issues are part of your situation, talk with the right official office, hotline, legal aid group, or licensed professional.
Where to start
Do not spend all day calling every thrift store first. Free furniture is often handled through referrals, not walk-in shopping. If you have a case manager, shelter worker, school social worker, home visitor, WIC worker, hospital social worker, or domestic violence advocate, ask that person to make the referral.
If you are housed
Call 211 and ask for “furniture,” “household goods,” “beds,” “linens,” and “move-in kits.” Then check low-cost stores and neighborhood free groups.
If you are moving in
Ask the agency helping with your move-in to write a referral letter. Many furniture ministries serve families coming out of homelessness or shelter.
If you have a baby
Ask WIC, your clinic, a nurse, or a social worker about Cribs for Kids and diaper help before buying a used crib or car seat.
For more housing steps, see ASMOM’s housing help and rent help guides.
Quick reference table
| Need | Best first step | What to ask for | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beds, couch, table, dishes | Delaware 211 | Furniture banks, household goods, thrift vouchers, move-in kits | Stock and funding change often. |
| Homeless or leaving shelter | Centralized Intake | Shelter, rehousing, case manager referral, move-in basics | Free furniture may need an agency referral. |
| Baby has no safe sleep space | Clinic, WIC, nurse, or social worker | Cribs for Kids referral | Delaware says families cannot self-refer. |
| Diapers and wipes | Catholic Charities or Medicaid plan | Diaper Bank or postpartum Medicaid diaper benefit | Bring proof of child and income. |
| Low-cost furniture today | Habitat ReStore or Goodwill | Current furniture stock, discounts, delivery options | Call before renting a truck. |
Main Delaware options for furniture and household goods
Delaware 211
Delaware 211 is the best first call because it can search by your ZIP code and need. Ask for furniture vouchers, beds, kitchen items, linens, baby supplies, rental deposit help, and household goods. Delaware 211 says its service is free, confidential, statewide, and available in multiple languages.
Ask the specialist if the agency takes self-referrals or needs a referral from a shelter, State Service Center, school, clinic, or case manager. If the first option has no funds, ask for two backup agencies before you hang up.
State Service Centers
Delaware lists 15 State Service Centers. These centers are important when your furniture need is tied to rent, emergency shelter, utilities, benefits, or a sudden crisis. The Division of Social Services page also points people to State Service Centers for emergency housing and lists the customer relations number 1-866-843-7212.
Do not ask only for “free furniture.” Say what happened and what you need to stay stable. For example: “I moved into an apartment after shelter and I need beds, linens, and kitchen items for my children.” If a center cannot provide items, ask for Community Resource Assistance or a referral letter.
New Life Furnishings in Wilmington
New Life Furnishings is a Westminster Presbyterian Church outreach that provides donated furniture and household goods for free to clients referred by local social service agencies. Its page says it helps people moving from homelessness to independent living, and that volunteers help with pick-ups and delivery.
This is not a walk-in store. Ask your shelter, rehousing worker, Friendship House contact, Lutheran Community Services contact, or other agency worker whether they can refer you.
Love INC of Mid-Delmarva
For Sussex County and nearby areas, Love INC is listed by Delaware 211 as helping with food, clothing, furniture, budget coaching, community courses, and a baby pantry. Love INC also lists its intake contact on its help page.
Call or message first. Ask whether furniture help is open, whether delivery is possible, and what documents are needed. If you live outside its service area, ask 211 for a closer option.
Habitat ReStores
Habitat ReStores in New Castle County sell donated and new items at low cost. The New Castle County page lists Prices Corner and Middletown locations and says ReStore purchases support the local affordable housing mission. Other Delaware Habitat affiliates may have ReStore options in Kent and Sussex areas.
ReStores are usually best when you have a small budget and transportation. Ask about current beds, dressers, tables, sofas, appliances, and delivery rules before you go.
Goodwill, Salvation Army, and clothing banks
Goodwill Delaware lists retail stores, a HomeStore in Wilmington, and an outlet in New Castle. These are low-cost options, not guaranteed free options.
Salvation Army Delaware serves the state through corps in Dover, Seaford, and Wilmington. Call the closest corps and ask whether emergency help, vouchers, household goods, clothing, or seasonal help is available this month. ASMOM also has a broader Salvation Army guide.
Friendship House focuses on clothing, uniforms, shoes, and related help. It may not be the right place for large furniture, but clothing, uniforms, blankets, and warm items can free up money for beds and household needs.
Cribs, diapers, and baby items
Be careful with used baby gear. Used cribs, car seats, and sleepers can be unsafe, expired, recalled, or missing parts. For baby items, start with verified programs before accepting a hand-me-down.
| Program | What it may help with | Who should ask | How to start |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cribs for Kids | Safe sleep education and a safe crib | Delaware mothers without a safe crib and without money to buy one | Ask a nurse, social worker, WIC office, hospital, or provider for a referral through Cribs for Kids. |
| Medicaid postpartum support | Diapers, wipes, and meal support during the first 12 weeks after birth | Low-income mothers in Diamond State Health Plan Medicaid | Ask your Medicaid plan or postpartum provider about the new moms benefit. |
| Delaware WIC | Food, nutrition help, breastfeeding support, and referrals | Pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and young children | Contact Delaware WIC by county. |
| Catholic Charities Diaper Bank | Monthly diaper distributions, depending on supply | Delaware families meeting financial guidelines | Call or visit the Wilmington office listed by the Diaper Bank. |
For more child and pregnancy support, use ASMOM’s baby gear guide, postpartum guide, and WIC guide.
Where to look by county
| Area | Good first calls | Low-cost places | Ask this |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Castle County | 211, State Service Center, Centralized Intake, New Life Furnishings referral | Goodwill HomeStore, Goodwill Outlet, Habitat ReStores | “Do you know an agency that can refer me for furniture after move-in?” |
| Kent County | 211, State Service Center, shelter or school worker | Dover Goodwill, Habitat options, Salvation Army Dover | “Is there a furniture voucher, church closet, or delivery partner near Dover?” |
| Sussex County | 211, Love INC, State Service Center, Code Purple contacts in winter | Goodwill stores, Habitat options, Salvation Army Seaford | “Can Love INC or a church partner help with furniture or a baby pantry?” |
If you need help with food, health coverage, child care, or utility bills while you search for household items, see ASMOM’s SNAP guide, Medicaid guide, child care help, and bill help.
Documents and details to gather
You may not need every item on this list, but having them ready makes calls easier. Keep photos on your phone if you do not have paper copies.
- Photo ID, if you have it.
- Proof of Delaware address, shelter letter, motel receipt, lease, or move-in letter.
- Names and ages of children in the home.
- Proof of income, benefits letter, pay stubs, or a note that you have no income.
- List of the items you need most: beds, mattresses, crib, couch, table, chairs, pots, dishes, towels, sheets, lamps, cleaning supplies.
- Case manager or agency contact, if you have one.
- Photos of empty rooms if an agency asks for proof of need.
- Transportation plan: who can pick up, what vehicle, and which days work.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for one program only. Furniture aid is often limited. Call 211, ask your case manager, and check low-cost backup options at the same time.
- Assuming HSP is open. DSHA says the Housing Stability Program portal closed on May 7, 2026, and applications already submitted will be processed until funds are spent. Check DSHA’s update before relying on old HSP advice.
- Using unsafe baby items. Do not use a crib, sleeper, or car seat if it is recalled, expired, broken, missing labels, or missing parts.
- Spending truck money first. Call stores before renting a truck. Ask what is in stock and whether items are held, delivered, or first-come only.
- Not asking for referrals. Some free furniture programs do not serve walk-ins. A referral letter can matter.
What to do if you are denied, delayed, or overwhelmed
Ask why the answer is no. Is the program out of funds, outside your county, missing documents, or only open to people with agency referrals? Each problem has a different next step.
If you are facing eviction or a housing subsidy problem, DSHA points renters to the Eviction Defense Project, which connects renters with legal and financial resources. This is not furniture help, but staying housed is the first step to keeping donated furniture and household items safe.
If the problem is bigger than furniture, start with ASMOM’s local help guide and real grants guide so you can work on benefits, rent, food, and emergency support together.
Phone scripts you can use
Calling 211
“Hi, I am a Delaware parent and I need beds and basic household items for my children. Can you search for furniture banks, furniture vouchers, household goods, move-in kits, and agencies that accept referrals in my ZIP code?”
Calling a case manager
“I am moving into housing and I do not have beds, dishes, linens, or a table. Can your agency refer me to any furniture ministry or write a letter showing I need move-in basics?”
Calling a thrift store
“Before I arrange a ride, can you tell me if you have low-cost beds, dressers, tables, or kitchen items today? Do you offer delivery, holds, discounts, or partner vouchers?”
Calling about baby items
“I have a baby or I am due soon, and I do not have a safe crib or enough diapers. Can you help me with a Cribs for Kids referral, WIC referral, diaper bank, or Medicaid postpartum diaper benefit?”
Backup options when free furniture is not available
Use safe, low-cost backups while you keep looking for free help. Ask in local groups, but protect your privacy and meet in safe ways.
- Check the Freecycle Network for free furniture and household goods near you.
- Use the Buy Nothing Project for neighbor-to-neighbor giving.
- Ask schools, churches, clinics, and WIC offices if they know a local closet or family resource pantry.
- Ask your landlord if another tenant left safe, usable furniture behind that can be legally released to you.
- Post a short needs list, not your full story. Example: “Single parent setting up apartment. Need twin beds, sheets, pots, and small table. Can pick up Saturday.”
Resumen en español
En Delaware no hay un solo programa estatal que dé muebles gratis a todas las madres solteras. Empiece con Delaware 211 y pida referencias para muebles, camas, artículos del hogar, pañales y ayuda para mudanza. Si no tiene un lugar seguro para dormir, llame o mande texto a 1-833-FIND-BED. Si hay violencia doméstica, llame a una línea de ayuda de 24 horas. Para cunas seguras, pida a una enfermera, WIC, clínica, hospital o trabajador social una referencia a Cribs for Kids.
FAQ
Does Delaware give free furniture to single mothers?
Delaware does not have one statewide free furniture program for all single mothers. Help is usually local and may come through 211 referrals, shelter or rehousing case managers, furniture ministries, thrift vouchers, diaper programs, and community groups.
What number should I call first?
Call Delaware 211 first for local referrals. If you are homeless or need shelter, call or text Centralized Intake at 1-833-FIND-BED. If you are in danger, call 911 or a domestic violence hotline.
Can I get a free crib in Delaware?
Possibly. Delaware Cribs for Kids can provide safe sleep education and a safe crib for eligible families, but Delaware says individuals cannot self-refer. Ask a nurse, WIC worker, doctor, hospital worker, or social worker to make the referral.
Can I get diapers and wipes?
Some families can get help through Catholic Charities Diaper Bank, WIC referrals, local diaper pantries, or Delaware Medicaid postpartum support. Availability depends on supply, eligibility, and your situation.
What if I need furniture after leaving shelter?
Ask your shelter, rehousing worker, or case manager for a referral letter. Some furniture ministries, including New Life Furnishings, focus on people moving from homelessness into independent housing and may require an agency referral.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified May 20, 2026, next review August 20, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.