CORT and Entryway Mark $1M in Donations for Homelessness Support
Entryway, a national nonprofit devoted to ending homelessness through employment in the multifamily housing industry, is marking a landmark moment in its longstanding partnership with CORT Furniture Rental. Since the inception of their collaboration in 2017, CORT’s steadfast support has helped transform countless lives. Now, as of June 2025, CORT’s in-kind donations of furnishings and housewares to Entryway participants have surpassed a cumulative value of $1 million — a powerful testament to the role of strategic corporate-nonprofit partnerships in solving systemic social challenges.
This milestone represents more than just a financial contribution. It signifies the culmination of years of aligned purpose and shared vision: creating lasting, dignified change in the lives of individuals and families experiencing homelessness. CORT’s donations have enabled Entryway participants not only to secure housing but to make their new spaces truly livable, comfortable, and reflective of their fresh start. Essential furnishings, such as beds, sofas, tables, kitchen items, and more, help turn empty apartments into homes — places where families can feel safe, secure, and ready to rebuild.
At its heart, Entryway operates on the belief that both housing and employment are essential building blocks to stability — not destinations, but new beginnings. Founded in 2014, the organization offers a comprehensive, people-first model that connects individuals emerging from homelessness with training, employment, and stable housing within the multifamily real estate industry. The program is designed to be holistic: from career coaching and mentorship to placing individuals in long-term roles as maintenance professionals, leasing consultants, or property managers, Entryway ensures each participant is supported in achieving sustained independence.
To date, Entryway has placed over 500 individuals into long-term careers, ultimately enabling more than 1,000 people — including family members — to transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency. As the organization continues to scale, it now operates in 14 cities across the United States. These expanding efforts would not be possible without the foundational support of corporate partners like CORT.
CORT’s contributions often represent the final step in an Entryway participant’s transformation journey. Once stable housing is secured and employment is underway, the furnishing of a home becomes the symbolic and literal finish line — the moment when temporary uncertainty is replaced with permanence, pride, and a sense of belonging. Without such support, participants may find themselves in a stark, unfurnished apartment, lacking even the most basic comforts. With CORT’s help, however, every new beginning is framed by warmth, stability, and dignity.
“CORT is proud to stand with Entryway in their mission to end homelessness through employment,” said Paula Newell, Chief Operating Officer at CORT. “We know how important it is for people to feel a sense of security and belonging. Our team is honored to contribute in a way that makes homes livable — not just functional.”
The partnership is grounded in shared values: compassion, empowerment, and the belief that lasting change is possible when communities and industries come together. While Entryway brings expertise in navigating the social service landscape, training individuals, and placing them into employment, CORT brings a unique set of assets: the ability to provide high-quality furnishings, logistics support, and a deep understanding of what makes a house feel like a home. Together, the two organizations form a powerful alliance that addresses both the practical and emotional dimensions of homelessness.
Homelessness in America remains a complex, multifaceted issue, affecting millions of individuals and families across all demographics. Short-term solutions, while helpful in crisis situations, are often insufficient to address the root causes. Entryway’s approach seeks to offer an alternative: a long-term, integrative pathway to stability. The organization’s success demonstrates the power of employment and housing as tools not just for survival, but for rebuilding lives.
Entryway’s participants come from all walks of life and bring with them diverse experiences. Many have faced significant challenges — including job loss, domestic violence, health crises, or systemic barriers — that led to housing instability. Entryway meets them where they are and provides wraparound support that goes beyond housing or job placement. Career training, mentorship, emotional support, and community connection are all integral parts of the Entryway journey.
Through every step of that journey, CORT’s contributions serve as an anchor. Their donations make it possible for participants to create a space where they can rest, heal, and grow. The sense of pride that comes with walking into a fully furnished home — after months or years of uncertainty — cannot be overstated. It sends a message: you are valued, and your future matters.
Beyond the immediate benefits to Entryway participants, this partnership also sets a standard for what corporate social responsibility can look like. CORT’s decade-long commitment to Entryway shows how businesses can move beyond transactional philanthropy and instead engage in deep, mission-aligned collaboration. By integrating social impact into its core operations, CORT exemplifies how companies can drive real change while staying true to their brand and values.
As Entryway and CORT reflect on this $1 million milestone, they are also looking forward — with plans to deepen their impact and expand into new communities. Both organizations remain steadfast in their mission to restore dignity and opportunity, one home, one career, and one family at a time.
Entryway continues to call on other businesses to follow in CORT’s footsteps — to lend their resources, industry expertise, and community networks to help dismantle the systems that perpetuate homelessness. By doing so, companies not only uplift individuals in need but also contribute to stronger, more resilient communities. When the private sector steps into the fight against homelessness with intention and purpose, the potential for transformative change becomes tangible.
About Entryway
Entryway is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to ending homelessness through employment and housing solutions in the real estate industry. Since its founding in 2014, the organization has helped over 1,000 individuals and family members transition out of homelessness, while providing career training and employment services to an additional 1,300 people. Entryway’s holistic approach combines stable housing with comprehensive job readiness programs, connecting individuals to long-term careers in the multifamily housing sector.
Through close partnerships with real estate companies, employers, service providers, and organizations like CORT, Entryway continues to build a nationwide network of support. Together, they are proving that homelessness is not an intractable problem — but one that can be solved through collective action, compassion, and opportunity.
