It’s a huge celebration, a homecoming, a housewarming and everyone is invited.
Homesteads for Hope Community Farm on Manitou Road at the Erie Canal is celebrating the completion of their Forever Homestead Project. The Forever Homestead is a major renovation and expansion, a 6,500 sq. ft. addition, to a 200-year-old canal side brick home on the grounds of Homesteads For Hope Community Farm. The brick home was built on the location 200 years ago, existing there before the Erie Canal was built. The Forever Homestead Project’s construction began on February 1, 2023 and is due to be completed this October, with a move in date of November 2023.
The Forever Homestead, a $1.2 million project, is a beautiful mix of residential and ADA compliant space. The new center will allow the non-profit organization to be open 12 months a year, allowing for expansion of memberships and activities during the winter months. They will have the ability to create new programs, and to partner with agencies, schools and the community, providing a space for people of all abilities to gather.
The innovative design of the Forever Homestead includes, on the first floor, multiple classroom spaces, a large teaching kitchen and a sunroom dining area. The upstairs will feature office space and five bedrooms to be used as farmer’s residences. Not to be confused with a day program, this will offer five units for people of all abilities, providing the opportunity to learn, work and live at the farm and to grow their skills in farming, independent living skills and/or to be a great training stay for people seeking jobs in social work. The possibilities are endless with this innovative approach.
Jennyrae Brongo, Founder & CEO of Homesteads For Hope said, “Since 2020, Homesteads for Hope has been flooded with people seeking community – and that’s people of all ages and abilities. We’ve supported home-schooled families, special needs families, people out of work and students seeking opportunities to keep active. Homesteads keeps reimagining its mission, and realizes everyone deserves a place to belong, a place to grow their talent and purpose. There is nothing better than being in nature’s classroom, having a community of acceptance, and helping others while helping yourself. As we move forward with this milestone project, we are developing further innovations to create an experience for the whole family that will be offered seven days a week, including more public agritourism.”
Homesteads For Hope has titled their new center The Forever HOMEstead, not because it took forever to build, as this project was a top priority since buying the farm on September 1, 2016, but because it signifies that the organization is finally HOME and is here to stay forever, supporting the local community.
On Saturday, October 7, 2023, Homesteads For Hope will host their “Forever HOMEcoming,” a Block Party for all neighbors, and the community, to come see what the organization has to offer, and what the future holds. Brongo explains it as, “Arrive as a stranger, but leave as family. Our goal for the event is to celebrate this major milestone, and to welcome people to its mission going forward.”
Tickets to the event are $25, with kids under 10 years of age free. It includes live music all evening, multiple food trucks, farm fun activities and a fundraising auction. Sponsorships starting at $1,000 are available for the event as well, and all financial contributions support the final budget to finish the house, with a goal of at least $150,000 raised to cover the interior finishes, furniture, fixtures, technology, and final pavement in front of the home. The Forever Homestead will end up being a $1.2 million project with hundreds of local contributions that have supported and funded its completion thus far.
For more information on Homesteads For Hope Community Farm visit http://www.homesteadsforhope.org.
