photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

Living room furniture and artwork is set up in a transitional housing unit owned by Family Promise of Lawrence. The furniture giant IKEA worked with the nonprofit to fully furnish one of its transitional housing units, and the director said it will allow families to feel more comfortable and valued as they transition to permanent housing.

A Lawrence housing nonprofit got a boost from local volunteers and an international furniture giant to refurbish one of its housing units, with its director saying it transforms the house into an inviting home.

Family Promise of Lawrence and IKEA Merriam teamed up to renovate one of the nonprofit’s housing options on Maine Street, with IKEA donating its furniture to fully furnish the unit that is meant for a family transitioning out of housing insecurity into permanent housing. The two groups hosted a walkthrough Thursday morning of the upgraded and fully furnished three-bedroom house — complete with stuffed animals for the children’s rooms and plates and silverware in the kitchen.

Brenda Wahl, the executive director of Family Promise of Lawrence, told the Journal-World this was the second time that IKEA had worked with the nonprofit, which supports families facing housing crises to find stable housing. The furniture giant previously furnished one of the nonprofit’s apartments on Tennessee Street.

photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

An IKEA bunk bed set up in a bedroom of a transitional housing unit owned by Family Promise of Lawrence. The furniture, donated by IKEA of Merriam, was put together by a team of volunteers.

photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

Cupboards at one of Family Promise of Lawrence’s transitional housing units are filled with IKEA dishes. The furniture giant partnered with the Lawrence nonprofits to fully furnish one of its houses on Maine Street.

In a statement, Jordan Perez, the local marketing specialist for IKEA Merriam, said the store donated all furniture and home furnishing accessories. He said the company believes everyone deserves a safe, comfortable home, and working with Family Promise allowed them to use the combined expertise “in a way that makes a real difference for a local family.”

Wahl said the house has hosted families before as a transitional housing option, but the help from IKEA will mean the next family won’t have to worry about getting furniture or other necessities. Now, they can just “move in and move forward” with their life.

“They can feel comfortable, valued and feel at home right away,” Wahl said.

Wahl said that families often lease the spaces for a year or two as they build up savings or complete other goals, like earning a GED or college degree. She said that its clients still have case management with the nonprofit, but having a housing option gives families more stability.

Wahl said before the furniture was moved into the apartment, volunteers and local businesses working pro bono completed key renovations — including repainting walls, washing the windows and making minor repairs. Once it was ready, IKEA moved in the furniture, and groups of volunteers helped assemble it all so it can be “fully operational” for the family, according to Wahl.

Although a family hasn’t been selected to move in yet, the community support that helped prepare the house will still be there once a family moves in. Wahl added volunteers with the Douglas County Extension office will help the family set up a garden plot in the backyard that will be used for growing vegetables.

Wahl said the combined efforts of IKEA and local volunteers and businesses illustrated the way people in the area are working to provide more housing options, and she said that teamwork was crucial in making this house more like a home.

“It’s really amazing what the community can do when we work together,” Wahl said.

photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

All the furniture in this Family Promise of Lawrence transitional house was fprovided by IKEA Merriam. Brenda Wahl, the executive director of the nonprofit, said it is the second time the two groups partnered to furnish one of its housing options.

photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

A bunk bed and other bedroom furnishings set up in a transitional housing unit in Lawrence. All the furniture in the house was donated by IKEA Merriam.