By 
Treger Strasberg embodies Tikun Olam. Her mission: helping individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness by fully furnishing their new living spaces. Tiny in stature, but gigantic in character, she founded Humble Design in 2009, now a national non-profit.
She quoted the Talmud, “Tzedakah and acts of kindness are the equivalent of all the mitzvot of the Torah. If I were to base my life on one principal of the torah this would be it.”
She went on to say, “I realized through my work that there is no great divide. There is no difference between those struggling and those living in comfort. Heartache is heartache, loss is loss and suffering feels the same in any tax bracket. All of Humble Design’s clients are devastated by the prospect of being homeless. It never hurts less to lose everything, even if you have very little to begin with.”
She often thinks about Rabbi Shlomo Carelebach.
“Rabbi Carlebach spoke to members of Manhattan’s Diamond Dealers Club and was challenged by one of the attendees as to why he wasted so much time with people who had lost their way,” she says. “Reb. Shlomo responded by asking the group whether they had ever accidentally thrown out a million-dollar diamond in the rough. ‘Never!’ shouted the group, ‘An expert would know the worth of that which he held in his hand.’ Reb. Shlomo responded softly, ‘I’ll let you in on a little secret, my friends. I’m also an expert on diamonds. I walk the streets every day, and all I see are the most precious diamonds walking past me. Some of them you have to pick up from the gutter and polish a bit. But once you do, oh how they shine! So you see, the most important thing you have to know in life is that everyone, everyone, is a diamond in the rough.’”
Humble Design was born out of Strasberg’s desire to help mothers and children coming out of homeless and abuse shelters. The nonprofit helps families to rebuild their lives by taking gently used donated home goods and furniture and repurposing them to build a comfortable home.
“When leaving the shelter these families are often worse off because they have nothing,” she said. “No pots, no plates, no silverware, rugs, towels or bed. They often return to the shelter, because as hard as shelter life is, it is sometime preferable to living in the dark and sleeping on the floor.”
“We start by getting the families off the floor, and into beds,” Strasberg said. “Then we move in the other essentials. Lamps, desks, dressers, pots and pans and kitchen tables.”
All of the items are collected from homes and basements that are overrun with excess and families looking to re-decorate. Strasberg’s team picks up the furniture and other items for free, and delivers them to the families in need. Humble Design then designs the homes from top to bottom, cleaning, fixing, putting clothes away, making beds, filling vases with flowers and everything in-between.
“Families are left with a home they can be proud of, and one that functions as a springboard for success,” she said. “Their kids have a place to do homework, the family can eat dinner together at a table and no one has to sleep on the floor.”
About 98% of Humble Design’s clients stay in the houses they procure after leaving the shelter because they take pride in their home and want to work hard to stay there. The effect spreads through blocks and neighborhoods.
“By removing the obstacles facing previously homeless families, we can increase their chances of breaking the cycle of chronic homelessness,” she said.
Humble’s Roots
Strasberg never set out to launch a national nonprofit, build a continuum of care for families emerging from homelessness, or lead a movement rooted in dignity and design. She simply wanted to help a friend.
In 2009, newly relocated to Detroit, Treger learned that a close friend—along with her two young children—was homeless. After helping them secure an apartment, the joy of finding a new place quickly faded when Treger realized the family would be sleeping on the floor. That night, tucking her own children into warm, comfortable beds, she couldn’t shake the image of her friend facing bare floors and empty rooms.
So she acted. She gathered items from her own home, asked others in her community for anything extra they could spare, and furnished the apartment with love and intention. What she witnessed was profound: a thoughtfully designed, welcoming space did more than fill a room—it restored dignity, stability, and hope. That single act of kindness became the spark that ignited a national movement.
A Mission Built on Dignity
From that first home grew Humble Design. The belief is simple yet transformative: when people come home to a clean, comfortable, personalized environment, they are far more likely to rebuild their lives successfully.
To date, Humble Design has furnished more than 3,500 homes, supporting over 10,000 moms, dads, children, and veterans across the country. The impact is extraordinary: 99% of the families served remain in their homes long-term, breaking the devastating cycle of chronic homelessness.
“I have seen a great sift inside of myself since beginning this process,” she said. “I have learned how to be humble every day and teach my kids the same. I will occasionally take them to see where their bed went, or where their teddy bear lives now. It is touching, and I feel very important in their development and in mine.”
She continued, “I am very grateful for the blessings I have in my life, and every day at Humble Design forces that into the front of my brain. The ideas I had about what a homeless person looks and acts like have been decimated by the last 16 years of this work.”
UC San Diego’s Homelessness Hub evaluated Humble Design’s work and found that 98% of clients stay housed after receiving services—and that having a home, not just housing, is a critical determinant of health and well-being.
At its heart, Humble Design believes in ending homelessness one home at a time. Through thoughtful design, they create spaces that uplift the human spirit, restore dignity, and empower families toward long-term stability.
They don’t just furnish houses. They welcome people home.
Learn more at humbledesign.org.
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