Once homeless, veteran's new house now fully furnished

WATERFORD, Mich. (WJBK) - Joel Trombley was a combat medic with the Michigan Army National Guard. He served in Iraq but fell on hard times once he was medically discharged.

"We were blessed with a pretty amazing group of people coming in and making our house a home," he says.

He and his three children and girlfriend had been homeless, then they found a house - but it wasn't really a home.

"They got themselves into a home but they were sleeping on the floor with nothing," says Treger Stradberg with Humble Design. "We were able to talk with them and understand what they liked and the kind of things they hoped for in their home. And we went back to our warehouse with the help of our interior designers, and picked out the things right for this family."

So Humble Design kicked the family out Wednesday morning and spent the entire day redecorating. Then, Joel and his family came home to a surprise.

"We have another child on the way and it really ties everything together," Trombley says. "It makes this a home that is ours. It just brings everything together; it's so beautiful."

It's all part of Bank of America's Detroit Day of Giving, partnering with Humble Design to make this happen for the veteran and his family.

"Today we donated $20,000 to the Humble Design organization," says Rita Oldani, Bank of America. "Today is our day of give; we are giving $720,000 out through the entire community throughout metro Detroit."

"It's just a rewarding feeling when a veteran can come home and he has everything he needs," says Danita Thompson, veteran affairs case manager.

"With Christmas coming - it's like an early Christmas for us," Trombley says. "And it's wonderful."