Planting Purpose by Growing Jobs and Feeding Hope

Income inequality

West LA

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

LA is home to the nation’s largest population of homless Veterans, including those facing housing and food insecurity. Despite VA support, Veterans experience alarming rates of diet-related disease, suicide, and unemployment. One in four has diabetes; 87% face hypertension; and suicide is the second leading cause of death for Veterans under 45. Food insecurity doubles suicide risk and affects Veterans at twice the civilian rate. Many also struggle with identity loss and lack of purpose after service. Without urgent, integrated solutions connecting food, health, and jobs, Veterans will continue to suffer preventable harm.

This grant will support the transformation of 15 acres at the West LA VA Campus into a Veteran-centered Urban Agriculture and Food Systems hub. In partnership with the VA Whole Health Program, UCLA Health, and GrowGood, the project integrates food production, job training, and therapeutic green space to address critical health and employment challenges faced by Veterans. Through our Urban Agriculture & Food Systems Training Program, Veterans will receive paid, skill-based training in sustainable agriculture, food distribution, and green infrastructure. The produce grown - thousands of pounds annually - will be donated to the West LA VA Food Hub and other VA Food as Medicine initiatives, directly benefiting food-insecure Veterans. This project not only provides healthy food access but also fosters a sense of purpose and community, addressing issues like PTSD, depression, and social isolation. By integrating with the VA's healthcare system, the project serves as a holistic model for Veteran care, combining physical health, mental well-being, and economic empowerment. This innovative approach aims to restore identity and build long-term well-being for Veterans.

This project will demonstrate how integrated urban farming, job training, and food distribution can improve health, food security, and economic opportunity for Veterans in Los Angeles County. In the first year, we will graduate 12 Veterans, grow over 10,000 pounds of produce for the West LA VA Food Hub, and provide job shadowing and career-aligned capstone projects. We will also track mental health outcomes and aim to reduce contributing factors to suicidality by offering structure, purpose and community-proven protective factors.Long-term, we aim to replicate this proven model—already successful at GrowGood’s Bell Farm—with other social service organizations across LA. This work will create lasting systems change by embedding workforce development and food access into health and housing services, while preserving and activating unused space for urban farming.