" The trainees are not the only ones whose lives are touched by the connection to the seeds and soil. HGP affects the lives of all who pass through it. "
- Rosalie Evans, Former HGP Intern
Available Staff Positions
Internships & Volunteer Openings
Details
Schedule: 6 hours per week, starting in June
Salary: This is a volunteer, unpaid internship. If you are using this internship to gain course credit or seek
out grants with your college, please include this information in your cover letter.
To apply: Along with your resume, please send us a brief cover letter highlighting why you’re interested in
the program. Send your materials to omarg@homelessgardenproject.org and include the internship
position for which you’re applying in the subject line. Applications accepted on a rolling basis until the
position is filled.
Description
The Homeless Garden Project (HGP), founded in 1990 and based in Santa Cruz, California, provides job
training, transitional employment and support services to people experiencing homelessness. In addition,
HGP operates a thriving community education and volunteer program. Our programs take place on our
3.5 acre organic farm and related social enterprises.
We are seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented volunteer to join our team as a Payroll Assistant. This role
is crucial in ensuring timely and accurate payroll processing for our staff.
Responsibilities
● Assist with processing bi-weekly payroll using ADP software.
● Review and verify employee timesheets for accuracy.
● Calculate and prepare payroll taxes and deductions.
● Maintain confidential employee records and payroll information.
● Assist with other administrative tasks related to payroll, as needed.
Qualifications
● Experience with ADP payroll software (or a similar software) is preferred but not required.
● Strong knowledge of payroll procedures and tax regulations.
● Proficient in Google Suite applications (e.g., Gmail, Docs, Sheets). Excel is ok.
● Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
● Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.
● Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
● Reliability and trustworthiness
Volunteer Will Gain:
● Increased self-confidence and self-esteem.
● Improved communication and interpersonal skills.
● Networking opportunities with other professionals.
● A sense of belonging and community.
● The opportunity to explore new career paths.
Work Schedule/Time Commitment
Location: 333 Front Street
Days: Monday, Tuesday
The Homeless Garden Project is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, transgender and gender-nonconforming people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, and people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Details
Looking for a fun way to spend your weekends while making a difference in your community? Look no further than our volunteer program at HGP!
We're currently searching for outgoing and friendly individuals who are comfortable using a register and can help us cover the store during our Shift Manager's lunch break. As a Customer Service Volunteer, you'll be responsible for greeting customers, answering their questions, assisting at the register, restocking merchandise, and supporting the Shift Manager as needed. You'll also be able to educate customers about HGP, upcoming events, and how they can get involved!
But before you start your volunteer shift, we'll need you to attend one of our orientation training sessions. Don't worry - they're fun and informative! Once you complete your orientation, we'll add you to our online work scheduler, where you can choose the shifts you'd like to work.
Our orientation sessions take place at our store location on 1338 Pacific Avenue. You only need to attend one orientation session to start volunteering!
Join our team and make a difference while having fun! We can't wait to have you on board.
About our Store: Our Store is where we make a significant amount of our yearly income to support our transitional employment and job training program for folks experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Those who are in the training program make over 40 types of products using materials we grow on the farm, including food products, bath and body products, and dried-flower wreaths. Each year we have a network of over 100 volunteers who support the store. The store is, in part, volunteer-run, meaning that the profit we make goes directly toward supporting our programs and folks transitioning out of homelessness.
Location: 1338 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Saturday or Sunday
12 - 2 pm
2 - 4 pm
4 - 6 pm
The Homeless Garden Project is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, transgender and gender-nonconforming people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, and people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Details
Schedule: 10 -15 hours per week, and be willing to hold this volunteer position for 6 months/1
year.
Salary: This is a volunteer, unpaid position. If you are using this volunteer position for internship to gain
course credit or seek out grants with your college, please include this information.
To apply: If you’re interested in volunteering, please email omarg@homelessgardenproject.org and
include the volunteer position for which you’re applying in the subject line. Applications accepted on a
rolling basis until the position is filled.
Description
The Homeless Garden Project (HGP), founded in 1990 and based in Santa Cruz, California, provides job
training, transitional employment and support services to people experiencing homelessness. In addition,
HGP operates a thriving community education and volunteer program. Our programs take place on our
3.5 acre organic farm and related social enterprises.
We are seeking a dedicated and enthusiastic volunteer to contribute to our Value-Added Enterprise
program. As volunteer, you will design email marketing campaigns you will also work on social media
initiatives and report directly to the Value-Added Enterprise Manager.
Responsibilities
● Repurpose content from our organizational newsletter.
● Write and design 2 marketing newsletters a month. The focus here is to increase online sales,
and draw locals into our storefronts.
● Create 3 graphics a week (likely in Canva) to post in our social media outlets.
● Creates content for the HGP Store social media accounts
● Brainstorms, pitches and implements ideas for social media campaigns and posts
● Creates content for publication, including taking photos, sourcing photos from HGP staff,
developing graphics, and writing engaging photo captions.
● Prepare emails and messages for press, influencers and bloggers to promote HGP Store
● Analyze data to gauge the success of campaigns and posts and assists in creating performance
Qualifications
● Self-motivated, detail-oriented individual
● Ability to prioritize, multi-task and meet deadlines
● Superb communication skills, both written and verbal
● Interest in social justice
● Ability to work independently and with others, including staff, volunteers, donors and vendors
● A demonstrated commitment to HGP’s mission and values
● Experience with Canva, Shopify, Google Suite and email software programs are a plus
The Homeless Garden Project is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, transgender and gender-nonconforming people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, and people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Details
Schedule: 2 - 5 hours per week, and be willing to hold this volunteer position for 6 months/1
year.
Salary: This is a volunteer, unpaid position. If you are using this volunteer position for internship to gain
course credit or seek out grants with your college, please include this information.
To apply: If you’re interested in volunteering, please email omarg@homelessgardenproject.org and
include the volunteer position for which you’re applying in the subject line. Applications accepted on a
rolling basis until the position is filled.
Description
The Homeless Garden Project (HGP), founded in 1990 and based in Santa Cruz, California, provides job
training, transitional employment and support services to people experiencing homelessness. In addition,
HGP operates a thriving community education and volunteer program. Our programs take place on our
3.5 acre organic farm and related social enterprises.
We are seeking a dedicated graphic artist volunteer to produce a variety of materials, including event
flyers, product labels, brochures and reports. Materials are needed with irregular frequency, based on HGP
event schedules and program year.
Responsibilities
● Design Event Flyers: Create visually appealing and informative flyers that promote upcoming
HGP events.
● Produce Product Labels: Design product labels that clearly communicate product information,
match HGP’s style, and adhere to any industry-specific regulations or guidelines.
● Develop Brochures and Reports: Design layouts for brochures and reports that are both
engaging and easy to read. Effectively incorporate charts, graphs, or relevant visual date
representations along with clear, concise text blocks.
● Social Media Graphics: Design eye-catching images and templates optimized for various social
media platforms.
Qualifications
● At least 2 years of experience in graphic design
● Self-motivated, detail-oriented individual
● Ability to prioritize, multi-task and meet deadlines
● Dependability, flexibility and ability to maintain confidentiality
● Superb communication skills, both written and verbal
● Interest in sustainable agriculture and social justice
● Ability to work independently and with others, including staff, volunteers, donors and vendors
● A demonstrated commitment to HGP’s mission and values
● Excellent ethical standards and personal integrity
● Completed or working toward a college degree, preferred
The Homeless Garden Project is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, transgender and gender-nonconforming people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, and people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Social Work Internship Opportunity
To apply submit resume to evanj@homelessgardenproject.org
In the soil of our urban farm, people find the tools they need to build a home in the world.
The Homeless Garden Project (HGP), founded in 1990, provides job training, transitional employment and supportive services to people who are experiencing homelessness. In addition, HGP operates a thriving community education and volunteer program. HGP's programs take place in a 3.5-acre organic farm and related enterprises. Social Work Interns (SWI) work with HGP's Connecting with Community program. SWI work one-on-one with trainees to promote trainees' full participation in our job training and transitional employment programs by addressing needs such as health care, legal issues, transportation, and shelter. With SWI, trainees identify goals that will create and sustain their own well-being. SWI monitor trainee progress toward goals and supports meaningful engagement in accomplishing goals. SWI foster trainee progress toward unsubsidized employment as a key long-term goal related to a career plan. We look forward to working with you! The Social Work Interns bring so much value and support to the Homeless Garden Project.
Schedule: HGP offers Social Work Interns a schedule with some flexibility and choice within the structure of our trainees’ work schedule. Meetings with trainees take place during their workday; Tuesday-Friday, 9:00-2:00. Social Work Interns work with trainees to find the best times to meet.
Thursdays are currently required; supervision, social work and staff meetings are held on this day. Meetings take place in person at our 3.5-acre organic farm.
Responsibilities include, but not limited to:
- Assessment: work with trainees to identify current needs.
- Service Planning: collaboratively develop a plan focused on supports, activities, and resources required to achieve personal goals.
- Advocacy and Referrals: help educate and connect trainees to available and appropriate resources.
- Counseling & Goal Setting: provide support and structure for relevant goal setting.
Desired Traits & Skills:
- Good listening skills
- Well organized
- Appreciation of diversity
- Commitment to social justice
Orientation & Training:
- Work under supervision of Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Training in Motivational Interviewing, service planning and evaluation
Benefits to Intern:
- Experience working in nonprofit social service setting
- Familiarity with community resources
- Develop counseling skills
- Gain training in Motivational Interviewing and Positive Psychology
The Homeless Garden Project is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, transgender and gender-nonconforming people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, and people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Details
Schedule: 15-20 hours per week, occasional weekends, holidays and evenings
Salary: This is a volunteer, unpaid internship. If you are using this internship to gain course credit or seek
out grants with your college, please include this information in your cover letter.
Reports to: Director of Operations, and Value-Added Enterprise Manager
To apply: Along with your resume, please send us a brief cover letter highlighting why you’re interested in
the program. Send your materials to omarg@homelessgardenproject.org and include the internship
position for which you’re applying in the subject line.
Description
The Homeless Garden Project (HGP), founded in 1990 and based in Santa Cruz, California, provides job
training, transitional employment, and support services to people experiencing homelessness. In addition,
HGP operates a thriving community education and volunteer program. Our programs take place on our
organic farm and related social enterprises.
We are seeking an enterprising professional who is up-to-date on photo/video trends in marketing, and is
driven to creatively capture all that HGP offers, from Farm tours and HGP events, to staff, volunteer and
internship contributions, and trainee transitional employment experiences. Photography and videos will be
used on the HGP website, in print publications, in advertising, in public relations outreach, across social
media platforms, in email communications, and in other media as needs arise.
The successful candidate will demonstrate an ability and eagerness to generate videos and photos from
short clips to long-form storytelling that convey the mission and vision of the Homeless Garden Project in
innovative, authentic, memorable, and captivating ways. This is primarily a Videographer & Photographer
volunteer position. Preference will be given to candidates with photography skills. Additional skills such as
design, social media, marketing, and animation will also be considered.
Responsibilities
● Shoot, edit, and produce video for the HGP website, social media platforms, print publications,
email communications, public relations outreach, advertisements, special events,
meetings/presentations, and other media as needs arise.
● Generate high-quality still images and videos worthy of wide audiences that showcase HGP
programs, people, events, and other offerings
● Contribute to the office's videography needs as video experience/expertise allow. Storyboard
concepts, film and conduct interviews, gather necessary b-roll footage, and edit videos to meet
HGP’s needs
● Brainstorm and suggest ideas for adding a photo or video component to publications, stories, and
other promotional efforts.
Prefered Work Experience and Education:
● 1-3 years of experience in video and digital photography
● Previous experience working with a nonprofit is a plus
Qualifications
● Demonstrated proficiency and passion for modern photography and videography styles.
● Enthusiasm for a variety of image styles and a commitment to quality work across genres.
● Must be dependable, respectful, self-motivated, adaptable, efficient, and personable.
● Must be able to work well with a wide range of people, including trainees, volunteers, customers,
business owners, funders, advisors
● Must be comfortable working both independently and with our collaborative team.
● Must be able to juggle multiple projects, respond to immediate requests, and work in a
high-energy, deadline-driven atmosphere.
● Must be willing to work a flexible schedule.
● Willing to use personal equipment for videography and photography projects and assignments.
The Homeless Garden Project is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, transgender and gender-nonconforming people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, and people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Our volunteer program is flexible to allow for varied interests and schedules.
Learn more about our current volunteer needs here or contact us if you'd like more information about our volunteer openings.