Celebration of Life service – Saturday, August 3, 2024, St. Vincent De Paul Church, 120 N. Front Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. Noon until 1:30 pm followed by a luncheon. All are welcome to attend. Live Stream available.
It is with deep sadness that the Board of the Baltimore Furniture Bank announce the unexpected and sudden passing of one of our co-founders, our teammate, and our dear friend, Damien Andrew Haussling.
Damien has left an incredible legacy behind. Although Baltimore was his second home, he embraced it with passion and strove to uplift everyone. It is hard to overstate how much Damien cared for and did for the homeless community. He worked tirelessly with an array of organizations to help those who struggled. As a member of the Continuum of Care and Journey Home board for 10 years, he helped develop emergency responses for unsheltered residents that were adopted by Baltimore City, saving untold lives in Code Blue emergencies. Working with AmeriCorps, he supported and became an editor for the homeless street newspaper “Word on the Street” that provided job training and income for many. Damien often shared his personal story through the Faces of Homelessness Speakers Bureau, at schools and community groups and even on the radio, creating an understanding and visibility for the many unhoused in our city, and their individual stories. His work supported the Baltimore Corps, United Workers, and the Affordable Housing Trust Fund Commission, again impacting vast numbers of people in need.
Damien was one of the impassioned co-founders of the Baltimore Furniture Bank and became an Open Society Institute Fellow in 2019, which helped him facilitate the project’s growth from a one car garage to its present 12,000 square foot warehouse. In the process he also joined the board of Fusion Partnerships, a fiscal sponsor supporting more than 100 other community programs, further expanding his immense impact on so many in need in Baltimore.
Damien struggled with many health issues but no matter what personal battle he was experiencing, the Baltimore Furniture Bank remained his primary focus and passion. He was in the warehouse nearly every day, reaching out to support people in need and making sure there was access for all.
When challenging problems arose at the furniture bank, he would listen, smile, and say: “I just want to give away furniture”. This simple statement always brought us back into focus. His passion was often critical glue keeping us on mission and helping others. We will miss his deep thoughts, hearty laugh, and mischievous giggle. He taught all of us about our community and made us want to do more.
In Damien’s memory and with his passion we will continue to fight for the underserved community of Baltimore and strive to ensure we are here to fulfill our mission of giving away furniture to those in need.
The Baltimore Furniture Bank is holding a Celebration of Life service on Saturday August 3, 2024 at the St. Vincent de Paul Church, 120 N. Front Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 from noon until 1:30pm with a luncheon to follow until 2:30pm. All are welcome to attend.
In lieu of flowers, we are requesting donations to help pay the family’s funeral expenses and the memorial service. GoFundMe link: https://gofund.me/809e5247