You are here: HomeAbout UsNews & StoriesStories › Reaping A Harvest From Homelessness

Reaping a harvest from homelessness

19 September 2019

Reaping a harvest from homelessness

It was a volunteer with one of the Salvos residential crisis centres in Melbourne, Victoria (where those facing homelessness are given somewhere safe to stay) who first had the vision to create a healthy and therapeutic garden to help support those engaged with the service.

The service accommodates five families and eight people on-site and manages residents in another 17 community properties. The residents are provided with intensive case management and support to address their complex needs, such as family violence counselling, financial counselling, legal support and much more.

The large garden space has taken two years to develop, and truly is a ‘community garden’ with various groups and volunteers working together, including a ‘Work for the Dole’ partnership developed with Salvation Army Employment Plus to construct the space.

The garden features fruit trees, vegetable beds and artwork, as well as a barbecue area, a gazebo and seating among the greenery. Even the six friendly chickens housed in the new garden serve a greater purpose; not only providing eggs, but delighting children who have often lost everything to homelessness – including their family pets.

Service manager Leanne says that for many who have lost any sense of belonging and are suffering loneliness and isolation, “Our community garden strives to provide our residents, both past and present with a much needed sense of community and belonging.”

  • The Facebook logo
  • The X logo
  • The Youtube logo
  • The Instagram logo
  • The LinkedIn logo

The Salvation Army Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we meet and work and pay our respect to Elders past, present and future.

We value and include people of all cultures, languages, abilities, sexual orientations, gender identities, gender expressions and intersex status. We are committed to providing programs that are fully inclusive. We are committed to the safety and wellbeing of people of all ages, particularly children.

Five Diversity and Inclusion logos

The Salvation Army is an international movement. Our mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in his name with love and without discrimination.

salvationarmy.org.au

13 SALVOS (13 72 58)

Gifts of $2 or more to the social work of The Salvation Army in Australia are tax deductible.Details and ABNs

Subscribe to our mailing list
Hope where it's needed most

Top