The Phoenix Room, Making Housing A Home

“Our whole vibe here is that we want things that we would want in our own homes for other people to get as a welcome home gift”

Annette Hancock—the force behind the Phoenix Room—fills a crucial gap in the homeless services field by supplying necessary home goods to newly housed individuals and families. Move-in kits contain bedding, towels, kitchen essentials, and cleaning supplies– the kinds of things you might pick up from Walmart upon moving into a new place. The shelves of the Phoenix Room are stocked with sheets, comforters, pots and pans, all neatly organized. Some of these items are donated, some are purchased using donation funds, and some are expertly constructed in the Phoenix Room itself.

Hancock and her long-time volunteers—Gill, Kim, Kendra, and Alice—are all skilled at sewing. This means a set of printed sheets might become a duvet cover, or a dozen pillow cases might get unstitched and resewn to become a quilted bedspread. The Phoenix Room has a way of breathing new life into things. Annette is very particular about the contents of move-in kits– linens must be new and must be matching because she wants the recipients to feel valued and worthy of nice things.

With nearly 30 years engaged in this kind of work, Annette has become a well-known hub of acquisition and distribution for many housing and homeless advocacy agencies in the area. Organizations come to her when they have new items to donate, but also when they have a need. “My super power,” says Annette, “is connecting people.” Aside from move-in kits, the Phoenix Room stocks hygiene kits, toiletries for mobile showers, socks, coats, rain ponchos, cosmetics, and candy.

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