Concord transitional housing facility offers gardening to improve mental wellness

Ben Dion, director of development and community engagement at Fellowship Housing Opportunities, looks at mini cabbage plants growing in the garden beds on the Allison Street property. SRUTHI GOPALAKRISHNAN / Monitor staff
Published: 06-27-2025 1:59 PM |
At the corner of Allison and Badger streets in Concord, four raised garden beds are providing more than just vegetables — they’re helping support the mental well-being of residents in local transitional housing.
The community garden is part of a new initiative by Fellowship Housing Opportunities, a nonprofit that provides affordable housing and behavioral health services to people facing mental health challenges.
Ben Dion, director of development and community engagement at Fellowship Housing Opportunities, said the idea behind the garden is to provide residents with a healthy outlet for engagement and social interaction.
“Some of our residents don’t really have a lot of family locally or friends, so they kind of just stay cooped up inside and do their daily routine,” Dion said, when talking about the new raised gardens. “I think it’s a nice alternative thing for them to do in their free time.”
Currently, the garden beds are planted with young zucchini, parsley, peas and cabbage plants, along with blooming plants.
Residents at the apartments will be able to use the produce from the beds for cooking, said Dion.
Most of the rent at the nonprofit’s properties spread across seven locations in Concord is covered through Housing Choice Vouchers or subsidies from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, ensuring every resident receives the support they need to afford a safe place to live.
Each of the buildings is tailored to individuals with varying degrees of mental health needs, all backed by clinical support from Riverbend Community Mental Health.
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The apartment building on Allison Street, which can house up to 12 residents, was chosen for the garden beds due to its available space.
According to Dion, many residents have shown a strong interest in the garden, not just in helping maintain it but also in bringing their own plants to contribute.
While the nonprofit hasn’t finalized a transportation schedule, they plan to create one based on when residents would like to visit the garden, since many don’t drive.
“’Most of them are really excited it. They’re more into gardening than I am,” Dion said. “It’s nice to do these things for them because they really appreciate it and see that we are truly trying to help them and we’re there for them.”
Sruthi Gopalakrishnan can be reached at sgopalakrishnan@cmonitor.com