Making a difference
Homelessness is an ongoing problem in America. It’s a cause worth tackling, and it’s a cause that aligns well to our business. We strive to acquire new customers and then get them to stay with us. For many who are homeless, the path is similar – acquire a home and then try to stay in it.
Making a house a home
In 2020, Progressive and Humble Design teamed up to furnish homes for the homeless in our headquarter city by establishing a Humble Design operation in Cleveland. Humble Design is a Detroit-based non-profit group with operations in Detroit, Chicago, Seattle, San Diego, and now, Cleveland that serves individuals, families, and veterans emerging from homelessness by transforming their empty house into a warm, welcoming, and uplifting home with donated furniture and household goods.
As a company, we wanted to bring Humble Design’s operations to Cleveland, so our 12,000+ Progressive employees in northeast Ohio could help support those who are temporarily or chronically houseless in northeast Ohio. The Cleveland Humble Design operation launched in July 2020.
Progressive people also may choose to volunteer or make donations at Humble Design’s other operations.
Keeping families together
To expand our efforts in the homelessness space, in 2023 we developed a relationship with Family Promise, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization focused on family homelessness. Family Promise focuses on:
- prevention & diversion services before families reach crisis
- shelter when they become houseless, and
- stabilization programs once they secure housing.
Family Promise’s unique holistic, community-based approach enables families to stay together during a housing crisis and get the support and services they need to achieve stability. With Family Promise’s more than 200 affiliates across the United States, this allows us to engage Progressive employees countrywide in this meaningful work.
Progressive employees relish opportunities to work with these organizations to keep at-risk families together during times of need and furnish homes for those emerging from homelessness. Combating homelessness is a natural evolution for our community outreach efforts and another expression of our values in action.
More information
For general questions about the work we are doing to help the homeless, please send an email to PGR_Community_Involvement@progressive.com.
