The Homeless Garden Project has named New Leaf Community Markets its inaugural Employer Partner of the Year, recognizing the grocery company’s strong commitment to hiring graduates of the program and helping people move out of homelessness through steady, meaningful employment.
The award was presented before an audience of more than 250 supporters and community leaders during the nonprofit’s annual Fall Sustain Farm Supper, held at its 3.5-acre organic farm on the west side of Santa Cruz.
Founded in 1990, the Homeless Garden Project (HGP) provides job training, transitional employment and support services for people experiencing homelessness.
Its trainees work on the farm and in HGP’s social enterprises, developing skills that prepare them for long-term employment and housing stability.
Employer partners are an essential part of that process, said Executive Director Darrie Ganzhorn.
They volunteer their time to conduct mock interviews, serve on employer panels and — most importantly — hire program graduates who are ready to re-enter the workforce.
“Having employers come out to the farm and meet our trainees is powerful,” Ganzhorn said. “They see firsthand the motivation and readiness of our participants — and that builds real confidence to hire.”
In 2025, New Leaf Community Markets hired five HGP participants in rapid succession, allowing those trainees to graduate early and opening spaces for new enrollees. The hires reflect what HGP leaders describe as a “model partnership,” in which employers actively create on-ramps to opportunity for people overcoming barriers to employment.
“The Homeless Garden Project empowers people to gain control of their lives and move out of homelessness,” said New Leaf founder Scott Roseman. “It’s great to employ someone who’s faced challenges, but it’s extraordinary when that person becomes an essential part of your business’s success—and that’s exactly what we’ve experienced with HGP graduates.”
HGP’s network of employer partners includes The Garden Company, the City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation Department, Housing Matters, Janus of Santa Cruz, and the Santa Cruz Warriors. Each plays a role in helping graduates transition from HGP’s paid training program to permanent employment in the community.
Beyond job placement, the Homeless Garden Project’s programs combine hands-on work experience with wraparound support, case management and education. Participants cultivate organic produce for HGP’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program and for sale through its retail store, which also features a line of value-added products made by trainees.
According to the organization, 95% of HGP graduates over the past decade have secured employment, and 88% have found stable housing—results that underscore the program’s focus on empowerment through work and community.
“The recognition of New Leaf as our first Employer Partner of the Year celebrates what’s possible when businesses and nonprofits work together,” Ganzhorn said. “It shows that local employers can make a direct, lasting impact on reducing homelessness in our community.”
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More information about the Homeless Garden Project and its Employer Partner Network is available at homelessgardenproject.org/employer-partner-network or by contacting [email protected].
TOP PHOTO: New Leaf Community Markets representatives (from left to right) Kate Halper and Shelby Zivku, Founder Scott Roseman and Vice President Forrest Gonsiewski accept an award from the Homeless Garden Project. • Photo Credit: Paul Schraub