Free Mattresses for Low Income Families: Furniture Banks, Charities, Cribs, and Medical Beds

Where to get free mattresses for low income families

There is no national government program that hands out mattresses. Help comes from a patchwork of local groups, so it helps to contact several at once:

1. 211: a free referral line that knows local furniture and bed programs. Call 211 or visit 211.org.
2. Furniture banks: nonprofits that collect donated furniture and give it to families, usually by referral.
3. The Salvation Army: some locations give furniture vouchers for their family stores or donated beds.
4. St. Vincent de Paul: local volunteer groups help neighbors in need, sometimes with furniture.
5. Churches and mutual aid groups: some run bed drives, especially for children.
6. Housing programs: people moving out of homelessness may get furniture help through their housing caseworker.

Our guide to free beds for low-income families covers bed frames and children's bed programs in more detail.

How furniture banks work

Furniture banks collect gently used furniture from homes, hotels, and businesses and pass it on to people in need. Many also buy new mattresses because of hygiene concerns. Most do not take walk-in requests. Instead, a partner agency, such as a shelter, a school social worker, a refugee resettlement office, or a veterans program, confirms your need and sends a referral. You then book a time to pick out items.

Some furniture banks charge a small fee for delivery or a per-item fee, often paid by the referring agency. Ask before you go. To find one near you, use the Furniture Bank Network directory. Our guide to furniture grants for low-income families lists more ways to cover the cost.

Salvation Army, St. Vincent de Paul, and churches

The Salvation Army

Services depend on the local corps. Some locations give vouchers that can be used at Salvation Army family stores for furniture, and some help after fires or disasters. Others focus on food, rent, and utility help and may refer you elsewhere. Call your local office through the Salvation Army USA website. See our full guide to Salvation Army furniture vouchers for what to ask.

St. Vincent de Paul

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul works through local volunteer groups, called conferences, often based at Catholic parishes. Volunteers usually do a home visit to understand your needs. Help varies by location and may include thrift store vouchers, furniture, or referrals. You do not need to be Catholic.

Churches and community groups

Many churches run bed drives for children who sleep on the floor or share a bed. Some build and deliver bunk beds with new mattresses. Ask 211, your child's school counselor, or local churches whether a program like this serves your area.

Safe sleep spaces for babies

Babies need a safe sleep space more than a regular mattress. The NIH Safe to Sleep campaign advises placing babies on their backs on a firm, flat, level surface in a crib, bassinet, or play yard that meets Consumer Product Safety Commission standards, with only a fitted sheet. Keep pillows, blankets, bumpers, and toys out of the sleep area, and do not share an adult bed, couch, or armchair with a baby.

Because of these rules, an adult mattress is not a safe bed for an infant. Cribs for Kids works with local partners, such as hospitals and health departments, to give portable cribs to families who cannot afford a safe sleep space. Ask your WIC office, home visiting nurse, hospital, or health department too.

Hospital beds through Medicare and Medicaid

If someone needs a hospital bed for a medical reason, such as positioning or getting in and out of bed safely, insurance may pay. According to Medicare.gov, Medicare Part B covers hospital beds as durable medical equipment when your provider prescribes one for use in your home. After you meet the Part B deductible, you usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount, if the supplier accepts assignment. Use a supplier enrolled in Medicare.

Medicaid home health benefits must include medical supplies, equipment, and appliances under federal rules at 42 CFR 440.70. Each state sets what equipment it covers and whether prior approval is needed, so ask your doctor and your Medicaid plan. A regular mattress for comfort is usually not covered; a hospital bed or pressure-relief mattress ordered for a medical need may be.

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Checking a used mattress for bed bugs

The EPA advises people to check secondhand furniture, beds, and couches for signs of bed bugs before bringing them home. Look closely at seams, tags, and corners for small dark spots, tiny eggs, shed skins, or live bugs. Avoid mattresses left on the curb, since you cannot know where they have been.

• Inspect in daylight or with a bright flashlight before you load it.
• Use a mattress encasement. EPA notes a sturdy encasement removes hiding spots and makes bugs easier to see.
• Ask the charity whether mattresses are new, sanitized, or inspected.
• Check the frame too. Bed bugs hide in joints and screw holes.

Getting rid of an old mattress

Many charities will not take used mattresses, so you may need to dispose of the old one. In California, Connecticut, Oregon, and Rhode Island, the Mattress Recycling Council runs Bye Bye Mattress programs with drop-off sites and recycling events. Elsewhere, call your city or trash hauler about bulk pickup. Some stores take an old mattress when they deliver a new one, sometimes for a fee.

How do I get a referral?

If you already work with a caseworker, start there. Otherwise, these people can often write a referral:

• A shelter or housing program caseworker
• A school social worker or counselor
• A hospital social worker or home visiting nurse
• A refugee resettlement or veterans services office
• Your county human services or Area Agency on Aging office

Tell them how many beds you need, the ages of the people sleeping without one, and whether you have a way to pick up items.

Your plan to get a bed

1. Dial 211 and ask for furniture banks and bed programs.
2. Ask a caseworker or social worker for a referral.
3. Call the Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul near you.
4. For a baby, contact a Cribs for Kids partner, WIC, or your health department.
5. For a medical need, ask your doctor about a hospital bed through Medicare or Medicaid.
6. Inspect and encase any used mattress before bringing it inside.

Related guides

• Free baby stuff for low-income families
• Salvation Army emergency assistance
• Baby resources for low-income families
• Medicaid

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information. Programs and coverage vary by location and plan. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with any charity, insurer, or government agency.