Treger did not set out to create a national nonprofit or fill a hole in the continuum of care for homeless individuals. She did not plan on establishing a system that would help thousands of veterans, women, children, and families to stop the revolving door of homelessness for them. She had no intention of connecting with countless volunteers and supporters who shared her life view of leading with empathy and dignity. She just wanted to help a friend in need.
In 2009, a chance encounter changed her life forever. She was new to Detroit, and her friend confided in her that she and her two kids were homeless. The excitement of helping them find a new space quickly ended when she realized that they would be sleeping on the floor in their new home. She could not shake the image of her friend and her children sleeping on the floor while tucking her children into their big, beautiful beds. She decided to take that empathy and turn it into action. She began collecting her own items and then asking others if they had extra to donate. She ended up furnishing the entire place with love, dignity, and kindness. She discovered that design and beauty make a difference in someone’s world and that a personalized space can change the trajectory of a life. She had inadvertently started an adventure that would birth a national nonprofit and a worldwide movement embracing empathy for others.
To date, Humble Design has furnished over 3,500 homes for over 10,000 hard-working moms, dads, kids, and veterans exiting homeless shelters. Families who have benefited from the home furnishings from Humble Design have had a 99 percent success rate of remaining in their homes. Humble Design was born out of the belief that families emerging from homelessness deserve to come home each day to a clean, friendly, and dignified home. Many of these families have left behind all personal items upon escaping and entering an emergency shelter. Most have no beds, books, toys, or furniture to call their own. Today, up to 13 homes a week in 4 cities across the country are furnished and decorated with the same care, love, and empathy that her very first client received.
She is honored to have been nominated for two Emmys for the TV show “Welcome Home,” which follows Treger and her husband Rob through the process of changing a family’s life through design. She has been awarded ABC World News Person of the Week, Volunteer of the Year in Michigan, Woman of Distinction in California, IIDA Business Innovator, TCH Diversity Award, the Lighthouse Salute America Award, Optimist Club’s Ruby Award, Girl Scout of America’s One Tough Cookie Award, Make your Marc award by Marc Fisher, and Oakland County Executive’s Elite 40 Under 40, and others.
