Humble Design Chicago received a $5,000 grant from the SBB Research Group Foundation, which awards monthly grants to support impactful organizations.

Humble Design Chicago, based in Chicago, IL, is dedicated to transforming houses into homes for individuals and families who have experienced homelessness. Centered on dignity and fresh starts, the organization works alongside clients emerging from shelters and transitional housing to create living spaces that are warm, functional, and filled with a sense of belonging.

Through donated furniture, household essentials, and the care of dedicated volunteers, Humble Design Chicago turns empty apartments into comfortable sanctuaries. Its work focuses on removing one of the most overlooked barriers to lasting stability — the overwhelming cost and effort of furnishing a home from nothing. At the core of its mission is the belief that a safe, welcoming home environment is foundational to breaking the cycle of homelessness.

The organization responds to a gap that often goes unaddressed in the housing support system: the moment a person secures a place to live but has nothing to put in it. All services are designed to be dignifying and personalized, ensuring that each client feels respected, valued, and genuinely at home from the moment they walk through the door.

“Imagine emerging from homelessness and walking into your new space, only to find it completely empty. That silence can be devastating. We believe a stable, welcoming home is one of the most powerful drivers of long-term housing retention. When someone has a real bed, a table, a couch, they don’t just have furniture. They have a life to come back to,” said Trish Davies of Humble Design Chicago.

Humble Design Chicago’s services reach single adults, families, and veterans alike. By combining thoughtful design with community generosity, the organization creates environments where people can truly settle in, decompress, and begin rebuilding their lives with a sense of stability and pride beneath their feet.

“Humble Design Chicago is doing vital work to bridge the gap between housing placement and true stability, and we are proud to support their efforts to build community through compassion, generosity, and the transformative power of home,” said Matt Aven, co-founder and board member of the SBB Research Group Foundation.

About the SBB Research Group Foundation

The SBB Research Group Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that furthers the philanthropic mission of SBB Research Group LLC (SBBRG), a Chicago-based investment management firm led by Sam Barnett, Ph.D., and Matt Aven. The Foundation provides grants to support ambitious organizations solving unmet needs with thoughtful, long-term strategies. In addition, the Foundation sponsors the SBBRG STEM Scholarship, which supports students pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics degrees.

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