More Than a Day at the Farm: How Community Events Help End the Stigma of Homelessness

By Margaret Eskins Executive Director DARS Dedicated Advocacy Resource Support Community events such as the recent DARS Family Fun Farm Day are about much more than food, games and an afternoon outdoors. They create opportunities for people from different circumstances to meet one another as neighbours. In doing so, they help challenge the assumptions and stigma that too often surround homelessness. Homelessness is frequently discussed through statistics, headlines and images of people at their most vulnerable. Although public awareness is important, this limited picture can cause society to see homelessness as a person’s identity rather than a difficult circumstance they are experiencing. At DARS, we truly believe a person should never be defined by where they sleep or their current living situation. I remind our team often that many people are closer to becoming unhoused than they may realize, and that we must all remember: “There but for the grace of God go I.” People experiencing homelessness are parents, grandparents, friends, workers, veterans, artists, animal lovers and community members. They have talents, humour, hopes and stories. Many have experienced circumstances that could happen to almost anyone: the loss of employment, rising housing costs, illness, family breakdown, domestic violence, trauma or the death of someone they depended upon. The DARS Family Fun Farm Day, held last weekend, provided a welcoming space where those labels began to disappear. When people gather around a corn roast, meet the farm animals, listen to music, play games or watch children participate in activities, they are not divided into categories of “housed” and “homeless.” They are simply people sharing an experience. Conversations begin naturally, common interests emerge and relationships form. This kind of personal connection is one of the most effective ways to challenge stigma. It is much harder to hold onto a stereotype after sitting beside someone, sharing a meal, laughing together or hearing part of their story. Fear and judgment can be replaced by understanding. The person who may once have been viewed only as “a homeless individual” becomes a neighbour with a name, a personality and something meaningful to contribute. The farm itself plays an important role. It offers open space, fresh air, animals, shared crops, honey from our hives and purposeful activities in a setting that feels less formal than an office or social-service environment. During this special day, people participated at their own comfort level. There was no pressure to explain their circumstances or identify themselves as needing assistance. Everyone was welcomed with dignity. Events like Family Fun Farm Day are also valuable for children and young people. They offer families a gentle and age-appropriate opportunity to talk about homelessness, compassion and inclusion. Children learn that people experiencing hardship should not be feared, ignored or blamed. They learn that kindness includes saying hello, sharing space and recognizing that every person deserves safety and respect. For people who have experienced homelessness or housing insecurity, being genuinely included in a community event can be deeply meaningful. Stigma often creates isolation and can make individuals feel invisible or unwelcome. A warm greeting, a shared activity or an invitation to sit at the same table can help rebuild confidence and restore a sense of belonging. During the event, someone even asked one of our residents how he came to volunteer at DARS. Consider what that moment means. He woke up that morning as a resident of the DARS Farmhouse—a home for people transitioning out of homelessness—and went to sleep that night knowing that a neighbour had seen him not as someone experiencing homelessness, but as a valued member of the volunteer community. These events also show the broader community what DARS represents. DARS does not simply respond to immediate needs. We work to create relationships, rebuild trust and remind people that they remain part of the community, regardless of their housing status. At the DARS Farmhouse, support is grounded in dignity, participation and the belief that everyone has strengths to offer. The person a visitor assumed was one of our volunteers? He is a resident—and a grill master. Our honey bee demonstrator is a resident. The person greeting neighbours at the front gate is another cherished member of the DARS household. They were not simply recipients of support that day. They were hosts, teachers, volunteers and contributors to their community. Community events cannot solve homelessness on their own. We still need affordable housing, adequate income supports, accessible health care and properly funded community services. However, lasting solutions also require a change in how people experiencing homelessness are perceived and treated.