Homesteady Farm is a start-up not for profit social service agency serving the homeless population by helping them get back on their feet and into fulfilling, self-sufficient, and independent lifestyles.

Currently, Homesteady Farm is developing their flagship program in the greater Denver area. Future expansion is planned based on success and need.Once proven, the plan is to expand the program nationwide, providing the homeless with steady homes, growth-focused employment, entrepreneurial training, and nutritious food while benefiting the surrounding communities.

Homesteady Farm is not a replacement for currently provided government human services but instead is a compliment to existing over-burdened programs.

The Need

It is estimated that Denver region has over 10,500 homeless individuals, with about 7,600 in emergency shelters and transitional housing and over 2,900 living on the streets. In the homeless population, there are about 1,200 homeless veterans, which is 24% more than the previous year.

The Solution

Homesteady Farm will provide housing, meals, employment, and life skills training for currently homeless individuals and families. It will offer assistance to people of all races, genders, and religions as they move from homelessness into independent, self-sufficient lifestyles.

Homesteady Farm will be one of the only program in the state with a holistic end-to-end approach to ending homelessness through care and development of the entire individual and setting them up for success in their future endeavors.

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Vision

To eliminate homelessness by providing the tools, training, community, and support to empower people to become self-sufficient in leading a quality life.

Mission

To create healthy, self-sustaining communities that help homeless people to become self-sufficient through a steady home environment, nutritious meals, supportive community, growth-focused employment, skill development, and entrepreneurial training and assistance.

Programs

Homesteady Farm Resident Programs will consistent of permanent residents who are trained to manage and run the farm and organization operations, temporary residents who need up to 6-months of assistance, and guest residents who need up to 2 months of assistance.Each resident is provided with a tiny home (usually in a roommate situation), nutritious farm-grown meals, job responsibilities, basic job training, and advanced skills training as desired.

Homesteady Farm programs will be designed so that every resident contributes to the community to cover their own share of needs and a little extra.The program is for people who are ready to improve and acquire new life skills and increase their independence and self-sufficiency.

This holistic approach to ending homelessness addresses all basic human needs and provides an encouraging and supportive community to help residents develop the skills they need to live independently outside the program.

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The Details

Homesteady will be a 50+ acre self-sustaining farm and village designed to help homeless people get back on their feet.The community will include:

Tiny Homes

• Each home will house 2-4 people or 1 family
• Homes will be equipped with 2 bedrooms, 1 kitchen, 1 bathroom, 1 small fenced yard
• Pets are welcome (within reason) and allowed in home and yard only
• Residents will be provided with essential goods on an as needed basis (clothing, etc)

Farm

• The community will be a working farm designed to supply the dietary needs of the community and surplus to be sold to help support the running of the farm
• The farm will be designed using various eco-friendly techniques and methods to build a truly integrated living-working community for the health and benefit of residents, the community, and the local environment
• Farm produce and value-added products will be sold at an on-farm market stand, at community farmers markets, and eventually in local grocers
• All proceeds from farm sales will go back into the community through wages, purchasing supplies, etc

Jobs

• Able-bodied people will help with more labor intensive work on the farm or helping with construction and maintenance projects
• Those with physical limitations can work in the office or at the market stand
• Those advanced in age or with more limited abilities can help with child care or other less physically laborious tasks
• Everyone will contribute what they are able and everyone will benefit from all the helping hands

Training Center

• The training center will be equipped with the necessary equipment and tools to teach residents new skills including computers, construction, financial management, office administration, and much more
• The community will provide training courses throughout the week, host special guests, bring in specialized trainers, welcome professional mentors, and encourage on-going professional development for all members of the community

The community will be master planned to eventually become self-sufficient in every aspect – creating food, homes, jobs, and the necessary skills for all its residents to get back on their feet and set them up for success in rebuilding their lives once they are ready to move on.

The Timeline

This is a preliminary timeline that is still in development.

2018

Q1/Q2

• Build business plan, determine needs, costs, equipment, and detailed timeline
• Develop online presence
• Determine potential fundraising sources, requirements, deadlines, etc.

Q3

• Establish board
• Develop policies
• File state incorporation
• File for Federal EIN
• File 501(c)(3)
• Start connecting and building relationships with partners, donors, fundraising sources
• Determine potential partnership organizations, requirements, deadlines, etc.
• Determine potential supplier donors, requirements, deadlines, etc.
• Start exploring property options
  • Land donation, 100 year lease, etc
• Launch Round 1 fundraising campaigns
  • Land purchase - $400,000
  • Utilities / Permits - $50,000

Q4

• Determine needed food supply while in development and off-season, sources, funding
• Develop building plan for tiny homes, furnishing requirements, etc
• Develop utility plan (off-grid), costs, etc.
• Based on fundraising efforts, start property search

2019

Q1/Q2

• Start developing training program drafts
• Determine potential trainer partners
• Launch Round 2 fundraising campaigns
  • Building materials (tools, lumber, etc)
  • Farm startup costs (equipment, trees, seeds, etc)
• Continue property search as needed
• Launch large-scale marketing / funding campaigns
  • Crowdfunding
  • Partners
  • Large donors
  • Long-term donors

Q3/Q4

• Finalize training programs with partners
• Develop plans for remaining development (farm stand, training center, etc)

2020

• Break ground!