Gardening for the Homeless By Michael McIntyre, Urban Regional Extension Agent, Mobile County

Homeless shelters around the state provide food and shelter to those in need. Nothing is more satisfying than food when you are hungry or a comfortable home when it's cold or rainy. I'm almost certain that at some time in our lives we have experienced one of those circumstances. Although some shelters offer additional services such as educational programs and health checks, or generally help the homeless to achieve an independent status, none can provide the immediate satisfaction of food and shelter.

According to the National Law Center for Homelessness and Poverty, approximately 3 million people in the United States experience an incident of homelessness, while 9 million people experience hunger each year. Of the 3 million, 30 percent are chronically homeless and 70 percent are temporarily homeless. As a result, 900,000 homeless people are in shelters permanently and are capable of working and contributing to the system that is caring for them, while another 39 million people experience food insecurity each year. But what exactly is food insecurity?

Anderson (1990), defines food insecurity as having limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food or the ability to acquire foods in socially acceptable ways. Some homeless go to shelters only to get a meal; their other basic needs are met elsewhere.

According to the United States Conference of Mayors, 20 percent of the homeless population can work. The partial solution to this problem is simple and workable. Vegetable gardens can be established on the property of homeless shelters and maintained by the residents. This process will need support and agreement from the shelter administration, volunteers, master gardeners, Extension agents, and the community just to name a few of the supporting groups. Simple as it may appear to be, there are conditions that must be met and all participation is on a voluntary basis. However, there are three situations that must exist before a vegetable garden can exist: the labor force or the homeless must be willing to plant and maintain the garden; there must be land or available space for setting-up the garden; and finally, shelter management must be willing to undertake this program.

A few homeless shelters are already conducting counseling programs to drug and alcohol dependent users, which according to the United States Conference of Mayors, account for 34 percent of the homeless population. Homeless shelters can incorporate gardening as an education and therapeutic activity within their counseling program. The garden can be used as a therapeutic activity for the homeless, allowing them to exercise and live a healthier lifestyle. The shelter would spend less money purchasing vegetables and sometimes may have surplus produce to sell. The garden will increase the value and aesthetics of the shelter making it a more livable place to stay.

Homeless shelters and other organizations that provide food to the needy should take advantage of gardening opportunities that provide inexpensive sources of healthy food to the people they serve.

Burt, M., Aran, L., Douglas, T., Valente, J., Lee, E., & Iwen, B. (1999, December). Homelessness: Programs and the people they serve. Assistance Providers and Clients, Technical Report. Washington, DC: The Urban Institute: 1999.

United States Department of Agriculture. (2008, November 17). Food security in the United States: Key statistics and graphics. Economic Research Service: Briefing Rooms. Retrieved April 28, 2009.

United States Conference of Mayors. (2008, December). Hunger and homelessness survey: A status report on hunger and homelessness in America's cities. Retrieved April 28, 2009.

USCM homelessness/hunger survey shows continuing increase in need. (2008, December 16). In American City and County. Retrieved April 28, 2009.

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