2020 Impact Survey Report

2020 Impact Survey

We delivered 964 beds to 419 families.
304 of the families (73%) recently experienced homelessness
290 were single-parent families (69%), with 260 led by single women (62%).

With respect to the racial and ethnic demographics, 288 families identified their children as,

African American (168) or Black (26) 68%
Caucasian (10) or white (7) 6%
Bi-racial (20) 7%
Multi-racial (5) 2 %
Native American (12) or American Indian (3) 5%
Hispanic (10) or Latino (3) 4.5%
Asian (15) 5%
Karen (4) 1%
East Indian (1), Ethiopian (1), Hmong (1), Lebanese (1), Pacific Islander (1)

We called all families three months after delivery. We spoke with 255 families (61%), and this is what we learned.

Stability

96% were living in the same home where we delivered the beds.
98% said their children were still sleeping in their new beds.

Previous Sleeping Conditions

Before receiving their beds, the children had been sleeping

on an air or other mattress (74, 29%)
with a sibling or parent(s) on a bed or air mattress (65, 25%)
on the floor (55, 22%)
on an old bed (19, 7%)
on a couch (18, 7%)

Improved Sleep

204 of the families (80%) noticed that their children’s sleep had improved since receiving their new beds. Specifically,

Their children sleep longer or more deeply.
- “They like to sleep alone, and they stay asleep longer than usual.”
- “10-year-old boy didn't hardly sleep at all, and now he sleeps great. Right after he got the bed, he slept 10 hours straight. Now he sleeps more regularly.”
- “She takes longer naps now.”
- “My children sleep so much deeper. Before they would sleep very lightly since they were sleeping on the floor. But now they started snoring because they are so deep in sleep.”
They have a more regular sleep routine.
- Before they had beds, “they would stay up all night watching TV. Now they go to bed earlier and sleep really good. And they don't complain about their backs anymore."
- “They go to sleep early, at like 8:30 p.m., and sleep soundly through the night.”
- “Having the beds helps with a bedtime schedule because the kids are in their bed now and not out in the living room where there was still commotion late at night.”
- “They don't fight going to bed now; when asked, they go lie down in their space.”
- “My daughter, especially, used to not go to bed until 2:00 a.m. and now goes to bed at 9 p.m.”
They now sleep through the night
- “They are in their beds all night and not roaming around the house like they used to.”
- “They used to have to re-blow the air mattresses every hour or two.”
- “They sleep through the night and I am getting more sleep too. We don’t have to all be crammed into one bed anymore.”
The new beds are more comfortable
- “He’s getting better quality sleep than crunched up on a couch all night.”
- “They love how the sheets feel against their skin. It calms them down to fall asleep.”
- “The kids are not so scrunched up next to each other. They are so happy and more comfortable.”
Their children no longer complain of aches.
- “They used to wake up hurting.”
- “Their old beds were giving them crooks in their necks.”

Home Behavior

164 families (64%) reported noticing positive changes at home since their children received their beds. Families report that their children,

Love having a bed of their own.
- They “have a sense of pride in self.”
- They are “happier having their own space.”
- “It is great that the three-year-old says ‘this is mine.’ They are proud of their beds. They love to be in their beds and won’t even let me sit on their bed.”
- "It's like a breath of fresh air for them to have their own, comfortable space to lie down on at night.”
Spend more time in their rooms or on their beds
- “They have more quiet time where they will go lay down and relax in their own bed.”
- “Sets up her dolls and stuffed animals on her bed.”
- “Older ones are sitting on their beds with their Chromebooks all day.”
- “They encouraged them to keep their room cleaner, and they want to stay in their room. It makes them complete.”
- “Spends more time by herself, lying in bed reading books.”
Are more responsible and independent.
- “My toddler feels like a "big girl" - she likes to make her bed and play with her toys on her bed.”
- Sleep on their own through the night
- Help more about the house and walking the dog
- “More responsible with chores.”
- “My children are less crabby, and they are cleaning up their rooms more. They are more excited to go to bed and readily make their bed in the morning.”
Have improved mental health, with many feeling happier.
- . “More laughter and joy.”
- “No more crankiness when they wake up.”
- “They were slightly depressed, and it’s gotten better.”
- “More relaxed” or “calm.”
- “More confident.”
Get along better
- Less fighting between siblings
- “Not so crabby or upset.”
- “He tries to be more mature with his younger siblings. Less fighting and more taking care of them now.”
Have a better appetite and more energy.
- “Getting up and being active and wanting to go outside and play for the day.”
- “10-year-old's appetite has improved. He is more energized and gets his three meals in. He used to come home after school and crash and wouldn't eat.”
- “More playful and energetic”
Behave better.
- Listen more.
- “More following directions, willing to help out.”
Less bed-wetting.
- “The more stable sleeping situation helps prevent accidents at night.”

School Performance or Behavior

Of those with children attending school (207), 115 families (56%)[1] noticed positive changes in school performance or behavior at school since receiving their new beds. Specifically,

Ready to start the day
- “They’re happier to get up and go to school now or to their computer to start their work.”
- “Getting up earlier and able to complete his work”
- “They wake up refreshed and motivated to go to school. This is very different than before they got the beds.”
Improved attitude about school
- “My high-functioning autistic child is now eager to learn.”
- “He actually likes talking to his teachers all day now.”
- “Before we got the beds, they were not excited about doing their online learning. Now they are so excited to start their day. They also use their bed for their online classes.”
Better able to concentrate, more focused
- Son “had lost a lot of focus in school. He used to be on the honor roll. By the end of January, he hit A honor roll and was student of the month. It helps to have his own space.”
- “Before the bed, it was difficult to concentrate on his schoolwork. He used to be tired constantly. Now, when he wakes, he is alert and ready to start the day.”
More energetic
- “My daughter used to doze off during class. She doesn’t do that anymore.”
- “It helps with her energy and thinking.”
- “He has a lot more energy to do it—even the distance learning.”
Academic achievement
- “A good night's helps the brain.
- “My 11-year-old’s grades have gone up steadily since receiving the bed.”
- “They like to do their homework on their bed; they get their homework done.”
- “My son, who has autism and ADHD, is doing way better in math. His attention span improved, and he doesn't get as irritable.”
- “One of my daughters went from Bs and Cs to As. She feels more awake at school, which has really helped her grades improve. She is now looking at colleges for when she graduates from high school next year.”
Improved behavior
- “The 4-year-old used to act out, and now with the bed, does better at pre-k.”
- “Especially with my son with ADD. He is not as irritated from lack of sleep.”

What We Hear From Families

“It was a Christmas gift for the kids. They absolutely love their covers! It was exactly the characters that they asked for [glow in the dark and Spiderman].”
"I appreciate their attitude towards me. Everyone was so nice and helpful and are some of the best human beings I have ever met. My children got to see that there are good people in the world during a time of violence in our city and the pandemic. The beds absolutely lifted up our Christmas and brought us joy for the New Year. You have been the best volunteers I have ever met . . . The bed is even getting used by my father who has Alzheimer’s and comes to visit occasionally. . . . Before we were all sharing one, and I ended up getting COVID-19 awhile after getting the beds. If it wasn’t for the beds, we would all have had to share one bed together and my children would have definitely got sick. I want to thank all of the volunteers from the bottom of my heart."
“I was in deep depression and having them be so kind and respectful to us meant a lot to lift my spirits.”
A daughter with cerebral palsy is “sleeping better, crying less, and feeling less frustrated during her therapies.”
"I don't usually see enough good in the world. To see you and those kids come in and set up the bed was just a blessing. It is nice to know that is available for other families too." Thank you!
“[Having a bed] promotes a sense of belonging and a pathway to reducing stress. It's very important for what it does for a child.”
“It's a blessing. The cost of beds is so great that I would not have been able to provide a home to these foster children without the help.”
“The people that came were really nice. The kids loved the extra things that came with it. My daughter loved the teddy bear and purple blanket with stars.”
“The staff and volunteers were so kind and authentic. They did a great job of assessing the situation in their home and matching their temperament to it.”
“The gentleman that delivered . . . called youngest a "big boy". He was awesome. It was dead winter - there was a mini-blizzard, and he was still there and had a great attitude. It was a major deal.”
The whole crew was amazing. I really enjoyed their company. I felt like I’d known them for a long time.
“You guys are amazing! My kids have always had to share beds and love having a bed of their own!”
“It was good for us coming out of shelter to get a bed for her. It makes the new home more ‘homey’.”
“To find out about this program through my son's school was awesome. . . . It can change people's lives. Sleep is everything.”
“I moved to my apartment and a short time later, we all fell ill with Covid-19. This was the first place I've had since my divorce last year. Me and my three kids (all autistic) were sleeping on the couch. These are the first beds they've had in several years. They love their beds, they change their own sheets. It made my apartment a home. Thank you so much.”
“The staff and volunteers were so kind and authentic. They did a great job of assessing the situation in their home and matching their temperament to it.”
“You guys had a great team. It couldn't have been better! The guy who delivered the bed squatted down and showed my son the magic book and told him that to be a magician, he had to get good sleep. He made it fun. It was awesome. That's all my son was talking about for a long time.”
“When I wrote down my things and people to be thankful for, you guys were on my list. At the time, I was going through a dark place. . . My child was sad about everything we lost - and he specifically mentioned his own room and his own bed. Just the fact he was able to have his own bed makes a big difference.”
“It's such an amazing service you provide, and I'm so thankful. Without you, they'd still be sleeping on the one-inch mats from Costco. It was amazing. The people that delivered were so nice. There was a kid . . .helping deliver beds. I remembered him from when he was a little kid. It was great to see him older and mature and doing good things. And the blankets and the pillows - so great.”
“We are thankful that you help families in need. Without it, some of us might not have a bed. Nobody likes to sleep on the floor.”

[1] 22 families (11%) said “no” because of the pandemic and distance learning.