Through partnerships with multiple Chicago-based social service agencies, we work with a variety of individuals and families that include domestic violence survivors, veterans, those who have experienced a sudden job loss, or those dealing with extreme health situations. These individuals and families may be coming from life on the street, a shelter, or living doubled up with family or friends, with no, or only a few, possessions to take with them to their new home. They may not have any furniture or just the bare necessities once they do have a space to call their own. The Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness estimates that 58,625 people experienced homelessness in 2024, highlighting the continued scale of the crisis across the city. This estimate includes 19,317 individuals staying in shelters or on the street and 39,308 people temporarily doubled up with others, underscoring how many Chicagoans experience hidden homelessness outside of traditional counts. By comparison, the City of Chicago’s 2025 one-night count identified 7,452 residents experiencing homelessness, reflecting the limitations of point-in-time data versus year-long estimates. 

In 2019, three former colleagues combined their diverse backgrounds and shared passion for helping those in need to form Digs with Dignity- working to break the cycle of homelessness while keeping furniture waste out of landfills. Native Chicagoan Kim Hannay leads the organization’s business development and operational strategies. In the early years, interior designer Beth Wangman helped bring each space to life, alongside woodworking master Jan Claibourne, who continues to curate and restore slightly worn pieces of donated furniture and goods from the Chicago community.

Together, they’ve created a three-pillar process–Relate, Renew, Rebuild–to change the lives of those impacted by homelessness and to protect the environment from the highly problematic impact of furniture waste. Since furniture cannot be easily thrown out or recycled like other waste, most often it ends up in a landfill. The majority of furniture materials are not biodegradable and can emit harmful chemicals into the environment. By seeking furniture donations from the community, we are taking a sustainable approach to rebuild the lives of our clients.

Since their first fundraiser in November 2019, DIGS has grown into a 501 (c)(3) with a 24,000+ square foot warehouse full of donations and countless volunteers who make our mission a reality. We have transformed spaces into homes for over 275 families and have kept over 300,000 lbs of furniture and home goods out of landfills in the process.