Homesteads For Hope Community Farm

Planting Seeds of Hope Our Founders, Luann and Jennyrae Brongo felt hopeless trying to find services for Charles “Chucky” Brongo after he graduated from the school system at age 21. Despite unwavering advocacy and a relentless search for options, the family was not able to secure the assistance and support they needed. They spent endless days and nights praying for a miracle. One random day, Jenny & Chucky went to “Uncle Bobs” farm down the street, adventuring around the canal side farm, Jenny did a quick Google search of “Farms for Autism” and realized there were hundreds of Care Farms & Intentional Communities across the country. That very evening, Luann and Jenny started dreaming of a better future for their family, praying to win the lottery to create the first working farm and housing community for people with disabilities in New York State. Our Story: Turning Dirt into Dreams The Founding Board in 2013: In Memory of Luann Brown & Olena Lylak Daily Farm Classes Open to All From the very first seeds of an idea to the thriving community farm we are today, Homesteads for Hope has grown through vision, dedication, and the people who believed in it. This timeline highlights key milestones in our journey - from the earliest dreams of creating inclusive opportunities to major programs, events, and partnerships that shaped our farm and community. Use the dropdowns to explore each year or period and see how our story unfolded, one step, one project, and one moment at a time. Each section captures the accomplishments, breakthroughs, and joyful moments that have defined Homesteads for Hope and helped us grow into the farm and nonprofit we are today. 2012 & 2013 A Dream for Autism Starting in 2012, a mother-daughter duo dedicated to supporting their young adult son with profound autism. Faced with the challenge of finding services and support after he aged out of the school system, and grappling with the sudden loss of the family’s father, they were left feeling hopeless about the future. Despite tireless advocacy and searching for resources, they struggled to secure the assistance they needed. During this challenging time, they found solace at a family farm. Immersed in nature, they discovered a sense of peace and purpose. After a simple Google search for "Farms for Autism," they stumbled upon a growing movement of intentional communities that offered young adults with autism and disabilities a place to learn, work, and live. Inspired by this, Luann spent her days on the farm with Charles, while every evening was dedicated to building a new future with Jenny through business planning. In March 2013, they officially established Homesteads for Hope, a nonprofit organization, with a mission to create an intentional community offering a place to learn, work, live and grow. Starting in 2012, a mother-daughter duo dedicated to supporting their young adult son with profound autism. Faced with the challenge of finding services and support after he aged out of the school system, and grappling with the sudden loss of the family’s father, they were left feeling hopeless about the future. Despite tireless advocacy and searching for resources, they struggled to secure the assistance they needed. During this challenging time, they found solace at a family farm. Immersed in nature, they discovered a sense of peace and purpose. After a simple Google search for "Farms for Autism," they stumbled upon a growing movement of intentional communities that offered young adults with autism and disabilities a place to learn, work, and live. Inspired by this, Luann spent her days on the farm with Charles, while every evening was dedicated to building a new future with Jenny through business planning. In March 2013, they officially established Homesteads for Hope, a nonprofit organization, with a mission to create an intentional community offering a place to learn, work, live and grow. 2014 & 2015 Farm School Pilot To test the viability of a "Farm for