Empowering people facing homelessness and addiction through urban farming
Sole Food
Funded since 2016
"Sole Food Street Farms empowers individuals facing complex challenges in their lives such as mental illness, addiction, material poverty, and homelessness by providing jobs, agricultural training, and inclusion in a supportive community of farmers and food lovers.
Through their work, Sole Food demonstrates the vital connections between farming, land stewardship, and community well-being, and models the economic and social possibilities for urban agricultural to address disparities in access to healthy food and the knowledge to produce it. "
Why we fund Sole Food
There’s lots to love about Sole Food and its inspiring leader, Michael Ableman. Their urban farms, built in repurposed parking lots, employ Vancouvers most vulnerable people. Many of Sole Food’s employees face challenges like homelessness, mental illness and addiction—which can make it difficult to maintain gainful employment. Sole Food doesn’t dismiss employees for failing short, instead showing them the grace, compassion and respect they deserve.
