Safe Housing Brazil Project #43235

Crescimento Limpo, Supportive Housing for Homeless

by Associacao Crescimento Limpo

Crescimento Limpo, Supportive Housing for Homeless

Project Report | Mar 5, 2024
Carlos, From client to partner

By Mark Kaiser | Founder/director, Associacao Crescimento Limpo

Carlos loading CL Farm produce for delivery

The services of Crescimento Limpo often have a different look and feel from one season to the next as we serve individuals coming from different circumstances who stay for varied amounts of time. We work to provide residents the opportunity to develop their independence and to progress with dignity. While we serve our residents to help them grow, we also remind them that any healthy dynamic must have a sense of mutuality (eg. - family, work life, relationships, etc.). And CL has only been able to grow into the dynamic and diverse organization that it is today because of the way our friends in recovery have time and time again become our partners.

Carlos is a great example of this. Carlos followed in his sister's footsteps after she had already migrated to Brazil from Venezuela, lived at the CL house and worked for CL's café, the Caféla. With her and CL's help, Carlos arrived in Itu with his wife and son and very little portuguese. Carlos lived at CL and took part in the 15-day back-to-work training program that is offered on the CL farm to all incoming residents. Carlos brought with him some agricultural skills from his life in Venezuela and an appetite for learning how to run a farm in Brazil. As He was completing his 15 days of initial training we had a full time job opportunity open up on our farm and we were very glad to keep Carlos on with us as staff. Carlos has grown in his understanding of the portuguese language, agricultural practice, and also the complex social dynamics of assisting new CL residents in developing a new way of life required for independent living.

At the end of 2024 our previous farm coordinator, Rogério, moved on from his role with CL. Carlos was a natural choice to be trained to take his place and we have seen Carlos continue to grow and dedicate himself to all that the position requires.

We are proud of the services that CL offers, but we are especially proud to see those services offered by the hands of individuals who have previously benefited from such services. Thank you for giving financially to our work! And as you do, know that some of our friends, like Carlos, will in turn join in the efforts.

Morning devo, sharing life stories and inspiration

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Nov 7, 2023
CL, growing through transitions.

By Mark Kaiser | Founder, director

Carlos, Bruno, Rodrigo and Rogerio on the CL farm.

Bom dia from Itu, Brazil! We are excited to share this update with you as we continue our work.

The name of our assisted housing program is "Crescimento Limpo" (CL), or Clean Growth. Growth, by its very nature, requires change, and change is an ever present dynamic- both in the lives of our residents and in the development of our organization.
A key staff member of CL, Rogério, will be leaving our organization at the end of this year to prepare for a new job in Mozambique. We are sad to see him go because he has had such an important role in working alongside CL residents as they embrace a new working rhythm for their lives. But this change also opens a new opportunity to a few individuals that CL has assisted, and Rogério is now mentoring three individuals as they step into new roles of responsibility in preparation for his absence.
Carlos, who came to CL as a refugee from Venezuela, is taking over the direction of our small farm where we receive new residents and assist them in building habits necessary to pursue gainful employment. Bruno is learning how to accompany new residents in a mentorship role and to support their personal development and transition. Lastly, Rodrigo is taking over Rogério's responsibilities in the structural maintenance of CL. Rogério was obviously doing a lot at CL! While it's hard to see him go, we are also delighted to see capable CL residents taking on new roles of responsibility within the organization!

We are proud to see our residents going beyond their own personal recoveries to shoulder the mission of recovery for those who will come along behind them! This act of offering your own received restoration forward, we believe, is the evidence of authentic recovery.

If you would like to help maintain this work, now is a great time to start! GlobalGiving is distributing 1.2 million dollars amongst the causes on its platform by adding to donations made on Giving Tuesday (November 28th). Donations given monthly are a principle way that we maintain our services, so please consider clicking the box to make a donation that you can afford monthly!

Thank you for supporting the mission of Crescimento Limpo! Know that you, as a donor, are in great company as you contribute to CL alongside our resident partners supporting our mission!

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Jul 10, 2023
Signs

By Mark Kaiser | Founder/director, Associacao Crescimento Limpo

Bruno completing his day of service on the CL farm

As we help individuals transition off the streets, we see a lot of signs, including the cardboard ones being held up on street corners. This morning, one such sign caught my eye. The sign asked for help to complete his documentation process. Since I am always looking for the individuals on the street who want something more, I figured that was a good sign! After an untimely green light and a flip around the block, I met Michael. He is from out of state, lives with a degenerative disease, and is working to reconstitute his life while sleeping on the streets. He was interested in our services so he hopped in my car, and we took a tour- first to our farm and then to the halfway house.

When we arrived at the farm, Michael stepped out and took a deep lung-filling breath. I affirmed him, letting him know that that was one of the great benefits of the farm- fresh air. Bruno, who is a new member coming into our halfway house, came to meet him and offered great words of inspiration. He told Michael, "The word of the day is perseverance. God's put a seed in you and I see it! You are supposed to be here! Enough suffering, look ahead, and step into the good that He has for you!" These were words that Bruno held onto from our morning devotional today. I don't know how it affected Michael, but I was inspired vicariously!

We then got back into the car and went to the halfway house. Eric, our monitor received us and gave Michael an explanation of life at CL as I stepped out for a scheduled call. When I was done with the call, I came back to find the two still chatting in our kitchen. I needed to leave to purchase seedlings for our farm and offered Michael a ride back to where I had met him. He replied, "No, I'm good here." I figured that was another good sign.

I don't know much of Michael's story, and I don't know what he will decide to do with our services. But I do know that today he has a choice, and I am very glad for that. I am thankful to get to accompany stories like this one and to see friends in recovery cheering on friends towards recovery.

Thank you for your help in maintaining this work!

Morning devo time on the farm

Farm produce; proof of the good we have to offer

Open CL breakfast; first contact with many friends

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