Farming by JTPA Youth, Young and Adult Offenders, and the Unemployed to Benefit Low-Income Families I. TOPIC Farming II. LOCATION South Central Illinois III. SUBJECT Farming by JTPA Youth, Young and Adult Offenders, and the Unemployed to Benefit Low-Income Families IV. SUMMARY In 1989, BCMW Community Services (BCMW), a Community Action Agency serving four counties in south central Illinois, found a way to alleviate some of the problems arising from increasing unemployment, underemployment, and homelessness in its service area. BCMW received a $149,000 special projects grant from the state to purchase a 40-acre farm. BCMW hired a previously unemployed, homeless man and moved him and his family into a house on the farm to manage it. The farm has 34 tillable acres and three ponds to support catfish farming and a pay-to-fish operation. For six years the farm has produced strawberries, sweet corn, tomatoes, lettuce, green beans, peas, beets and other truck-farm fruits and vegetables. BCMW distributes most of the fruits and vegetables free of charge to low-income families in its service area. The remainder are sold to help offset costs. The fish farm, the pay-to-fish operation, and a portion of BCMW's Community Services Block Grant cover the balance of expenses. The farm serves as a worksite for the Job Training Partnership Act Summer Youth Program, youth and adult offenders with community service obligations, and unemployed Earnfare workers, who receive cash and food stamps for their work. The farm has provided more than 50,000 pounds of free fruits and vegetables to more than 300 low-income families every year for six years, generated hundreds of dollars from fee fishing, and supplied local restaurants with fresh catfish. V. SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE Established a self-sustaining fruit, vegetable, and fish farm that provides more than 50,000 pounds of free fruits and vegetables to low-income families every year, sells fish to local restaurants, sells fishing permits to individuals, provides training and work opportunities to youths, adult and young offenders, and unemployed people, and provides a home, employment, and health insurance to a previously homeless family. VI. CONTACT Russell Rose, Executive Director BCMW Community Services, Inc. (A Community Action Agency) 909 East Rexford, P.O. Box 729 Centralia, Illinois 62801 618-532-7388 618-532-0204 (FAX) VII. CASE STUDY The Problem: Light industries and factories in central Illinois have been closing after tax and other building incentives they received expired, usually after about 10 years. As a result, unemployment, underemployment, and homelessness have been on the rise in BCMW's service area. The region's farms and small businesses are not able to employ or feed everyone in need. The Approach Adopted: BCMW Community Services wanted to find a way to provide food to those in need without resorting to government hand-outs of food or money. It decided to purchase and operate its own farm to create jobs and provide food to the needy. How They Implemented The Approach: BCMW used a $149,000 special projects grant from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs to purchase a 40-acre farm. The grant covered the purchase as well as start-up costs, which included doing some repairs to the farm house. After advertising for a live-in manager, BCMW hired a man who had been out of work and homeless. He and his family moved into the farmhouse and provide the bulk of the labor to run the farm. The farm's 34 tillable acres produce strawberries, sweet corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, cabbage, green beans, peas, beets, squash, bell peppers, watermelons, cantaloupes, and other fruits and vegetables. The farm also has three fish ponds stocked with bass, bluegill, and catfish. BCMW sells fishing permits to individuals and farms catfish to sell directly to local restaurants. In addition to the labor of the manager's family, the farm relies on labor from many sources. It is a Job Training Partnership Act Summer Youth Program worksite. Area courts send youth and adult offenders to the farm to fulfill community service components of their sentences. Under an Earnfare program, unemployed people in the county can work part time on the farm in exchange for cash and food stamps. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the farm relies on volunteer labor from throughout the four-county region. Results: The farm produced only a partial crop in its first year, 1989, because it got a late start. However, in its second year, the farm produced more than 89,000 pounds of fruit and vegetables. It has produced more than 50,000 pounds every year since. The vegetables are given away free-of-charge to approximately 300 low-income families in the area through BCMW's outreach offices. Some of the produce, especially strawberries and sweet corn, is sold to help offset costs. The fish ponds also generated income through fee fishing and sales of catfish to local restaurants. BCMW has had to curtail its catfish sales temporarily, however, because of new health and safety regulations that require such operations to be inspected and certified. BCMW cannot now afford to ensure compliance with the regulations and obtain the necessary certification. The farm operation also provides valuable training and work experience to youths, unemployed people, and youth and adult offenders. It also provides full-time employment and health insurance to a previously homeless family. VIII. KEY WORDS Adult Offenders Community Action Agency Community Services Block Grant Earnfare Farming Fee Fishing Fish Farming Job Training Partnership Act Youth Offenders