HOMELESS GARDEN PROJECT
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Mission Statement
The Homeless Garden Project provides job training, transitional employment and support services to people who are homeless. HGP's vibrant education and volunteer program for the broad community blends formal, experiential and service-learning. In 2013, this program served more than 1500 people. The programs take place in our 3-acre organic farm and related enterprises. Our Mission: In the soil of our urban farm and garden, people find the tools they need to build a home in the world. Our Vision: We envision a thriving and inclusive community, workforce, and local food system. Trainees in the program: Take advantage of transitional employment in the safety of a structured environment Practice basic life skills required for employment Practice a variety of marketable skills Share four hot meals a week with staff, other trainees and volunteers Give to the community by growing food for other programs that serve low income people Grow organic fruit, vegetables & flowers for the community
About This Cause
The Homeless Garden Project provides job training, transitional employment and support services to people who are homeless. HGP's vibrant education and volunteer program for the broad community blends formal, experiential and service-learning. In 2019, this program served more than 2500 people. The programs take place in our 3-acre organic farm and related enterprises. Our Mission: In the soil of our urban farm and garden, people find the tools they need to build a home in the world. Our Vision: We envision a thriving and inclusive community, workforce, and local food system. We Value: The capacity of every individual for growth and renewal. The joy that comes from growing and sharing healthy food. The well-being created by vibrant social and natural ecosystems Trainees in the program: Take advantage of transitional employment in the safety of a structured environment Practice basic life skills required for employment Practice a variety of marketable skills Share four hot meals a week with staff, other trainees and volunteers Give to the community by growing food for other programs that serve low income people Grow organic fruit, vegetables & flowers for the community Educate students & other groups who use the garden Create value-added products from farm grown materials for sale at our retail & online stores. Homelessness and joblessness go hand in hand. Lack of job skills, recent work history, social support network and low self esteem all make the transition out of homelessness more difficult. The integrated approach of the Homeless Garden Project's programs addresses all of these needs. Our Connecting with Community program links job-training participants with appropriate resources for housing, food stamps, drug rehabilitation, long-term counseling, and free to low-cost physical and mental health services. As a trainee nears completion of our employment program, Connecting with Community engages the individual in one-on-one job searching techniques, application review and coaching, and interview role-playing. Connecting with Community program is staffed by social work interns, supervised by a LCSW on staff. Masters of Social Work interns work one-on-one with trainees to promote trainees' full participation in our job training and transitional employment programs by addressing needs such as health care, legal issues, transportation and shelter. Our social work interns work with a positive psychology model and use motivational interviewing. With MSW interns, trainees identify goals that will create and sustain their own well-being. Interns monitor trainee progress toward goals and support meaningful engagement in accomplishing goals. In addition, our social work interns foster trainee progress toward unsubsidized employment as a key long-term goal related to a career plan. Our enterprises Our Farm Enterprises include a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, a Farm Stand, and sales to local restaurants. CSA creates a direct relationship between the consumer and the farmer, allowing the consumer to vote with their food dollars for local sustainable agriculture and to connect with the freshest produce possible. CSA members pay in advance for a weekly harvest box of produce during our 23 week harvest season. At our farm stand, customers harvest produce from our menu of seasonally available produce. In our Value-added Enterprise, trainees, volunteers and staff craft a variety of products using flowers, herbs, fruits grown at the farm. The products are sold at our retail stores (both a year-round store and pop up locations for holidays) and online store. We are continually developing new products, seeking new ways to add value to the farm’s organic harvest and introduce our trainees to new skills. Cultivating Community, our community education & volunteer program, blends formal, experiential & service learning. Open to anyone interested in learning about sustainable agriculture, nutrition, & social justice. Participants include seniors, church groups, students, families & professionals. Participants volunteer in the farm, stores, office and workshop and at events. Our newest Cultivating Community feature, the Century Certificate is targeted for people who are homeless. This program is a gentle introduction to the same activities & benefits of the training & employment program. Participants earn a certificate for volunteering 100 hours and attending 4 job training lecture in a 4 month window.