Humble Design, Inc.

Transforming Empty Houses Into Homes of Hope

By Jane K. Asher, Ph.D.

In 2008, Treger Strasberg met a family who had recently become homeless. Treger was delighted when she learned they had moved into an affordable apartment but was appalled to discover that the woman and her two children were sleeping in nests of their coats on the floor.

The situation introduced Treger to the daunting reality that many people face when they leave a shelter and obtain housing: They often don’t have the financial means to furnish their new residence and, therefore, find themselves living in an empty space devoid of basic household amenities. Inspired to help, Treger reached out to her friends and family, and, within weeks, she’d collected enough items to transform the family’s house into a home. Treger continued to receive donations of household items and furniture, all of which she wanted to go directly to families in need. After calling several shelters, Treger identified a gap in local efforts to break the cycle of homelessness. That marked the start of Humble Design, Inc., which was registered as a 501(c)(3) in 2009, and sparked a mission to fill that hole in the system by designing and furnishing the empty living spaces of families emerging from homelessness.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, up to 50% of families return to homelessness within a year of securing housing, and this alarming statistic reminds us that although entering housing is an important step in transitioning out of homelessness, it is not the only step: Families also need a fresh start in a safe, warm and comfortable place — a home where they can find peace, strength and hope. “The stability that comes with having not only a roof over your head but also beds to sleep on, a couch to sit on, a table to sit at and a desk to do your homework thoughtfully designed for you cannot be overstated,” said Humble Design National Communications Manager Lisa Crawford.

Humble Design serves families, veterans and individuals who are transitioning out of homelessness and provides them a new beginning by designing, decorating, and furnishing their newly acquired living space with donated furniture and goods from the community. The process begins with a referral from one of the organization’s partnering agencies, and then, following an extensive and compassionate interview, the Humble Team crafts a customized design for each client so that they feel ownership and personal pride in their home.

On the day of the home makeover, the Humble Team is accompanied by five to six volunteers as they transform the space for the surprise reveal. “It is a huge transformation — as most of our clients are living at or below the poverty line, it takes them from sleeping on the floor to living in a home that looks like it was, as many of our participants say, ‘from a magazine,’” Lisa said. “This instantly shifts them from an empty home and feeling impoverished by their environment to feeling cared for by the community.”

Lisa remembers one especially touching story of a young mom who entered foster care at the age of 8, was abused by her foster father and became pregnant at the age of 14. After giving birth to her son, she worked hard to finish school. In her 20s, she moved to Chicago with her boyfriend who began abusing her when she was pregnant with her second child. Fearing for her own and her children’s lives, she left in the dead of night and went to live in a shelter that eventually helped her move back to Detroit where she reconnected with her church community and worked to get a home for her family.

Lisa described the client’s home reveal as “unusual.” She was very composed — almost tight-faced — as she walked through the rooms and quietly took it all in. “But, when she opened the door of her daughter’s room, she collapsed on the floor and began sobbing. It was a room fit for a little princess — everything she had dreamed of as a little girl but never had,” Lisa said. “When she got done crying and wiping her eyes, she said, ‘My little girl is going to know she is valued, treasured and loved.’ There was not a dry eye in the house. We were all weeping and rejoicing with her.”

Since 2009, Humble Design has transformed over 1,965 empty residences into clean, dignified and welcoming homes for over 7,000 people — 99% of whom have escaped the cycle of homelessness. Due to the success of this Detroit-based nonprofit, Humble Design has expanded its reach to establish chapters in Chicago, Cleveland, San Diego and Seattle, and has also secured two corporate sponsors: CB2 in Chicago and Progressive Insurance in Cleveland. Lisa says that the Detroit crew, which designs three homes a week, is “a really small outfit” that would greatly benefit from corporate sponsorship.

In addition to becoming a corporate sponsor, there are several other ways that you can support Humble Design and play a crucial role in their mission:

• If your clients have gently used furniture or decor that they don’t want to move into their new homes, encourage them to donate it to Humble Design — check out the “donation cheat sheet” at humbledesign.org/detroit for a list of accepted items.

• Sponsor a family — the cost for the program to design and furnish one home ranges between $3,000-$5,000. Any group, team or corporation that makes a donation to cover these costs can volunteer to assist the designers on the Deco Day and will receive photos, a video and social media recognition for all their assistance and generosity.

• Host a fundraiser on behalf of Humble Design and work with the organization to create a customized online fundraising campaign.

• Be creative and think outside the box of ways you can help — spread the word to your colleagues and vendors and connect them with Humble Design.

“As a member of the real estate community, you already know the value of a home — you already know the joy of finding the right place for your clients and the satisfaction that comes from making those connections for everyone,” Lisa said. “Perhaps you, like our founder, have never thought that someone leaving a shelter — while excited to have their own place — has nothing to put in the house to make it a home. Think about the time it takes to turn an empty space into a warm, welcoming one, especially if you have several small children and a full-time job. Think about the cost of filling a house with furniture, especially when you are just beginning to get on your feet.”

Humble Design is ending homelessness, one life-changing space at a time. To learn more about Humble Design’s impact and the ways you can help restore hope and dignity to families, visit humbledesign.org or contact Lisa Crawford at lisa@ humbledesign.org or 844-486-2533.

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