TL&C Farmland is building a residential agricultural program for young people ages 16–24, with priority on those aging out of foster care — combining housing stability, workforce training, wellness support, and long-term community.
Youth aging out of foster care face some of the highest risks of homelessness, unemployment, and instability in the country — with no housing, no income, and no support system when they exit care. TL&C Farmland is being built to interrupt that cycle.
TL&C Farmland provides transitional housing, agricultural training, and life-skills education to foster youth ages 18–24 in an affirming, farm-based community — so they can become self-sufficient adults.
The planned model includes a residential farm with tiny homes, aquaponic greenhouses, community spaces, and year-round food production. Youth are not visitors to the farm — they live here, work here, and own their path forward.
Designed at a scale that creates real community — dense enough for peer support, manageable enough for individualized care.
Most transitional programs address one need in isolation. TL&C Farmland integrates agriculture, life skills, education, and employment into a single residential experience — because young people don't have siloed needs.
Youth operate aquaponic greenhouses and open-field growing operations year-round. They learn to cultivate, harvest, and sell food — developing discipline, patience, and a marketable trade in the growing local food economy.
Youth leaving foster care often lack the practical skills the rest of us take for granted — budgeting, cooking, conflict resolution, renting an apartment. We teach these directly, in context, through daily residential life.
Many youth age out of foster care without a diploma or clear path to credential. TL&C Farmland connects residents to GED programs, community college pathways, workforce training, and continuing education — with on-site support.
Résumé and interview prep are not enough. TL&C Farmland creates real employment through farm operations, connects residents to local employers, and provides workforce mentorship — so youth leave with income, not just credentials.
TL&C Farmland is embedded in Charlotte's existing foster care infrastructure. We work alongside the organizations that already serve these youth — not around them.
TL&C Farmland was designed from the ground up to align with federal, state, and foundation grant categories. We are not retrofitting eligibility — these programs fit the model.
TL&C Farmland directly targets the population and outcomes defined by Chafee: transitional housing, independent living skills, and support for youth ages 18–23 aging out of foster care.
Our aquaponics greenhouses and open-field growing operations qualify for multiple USDA youth agriculture initiatives — including programs targeting underserved and at-risk youth populations.
LGBTQ+ youth are disproportionately represented in foster care — up to 30% of the foster care population. TL&C Farmland's affirming model is aligned with funders supporting LGBTQ+ youth housing and transition.
North Carolina administers Chafee funds through the NC Independent Living Program. TL&C Farmland is positioned as a direct service provider and referral destination for youth in NC's extended foster care.
Our employment pillar — including on-farm paid work, employer partnerships, and job placement support — aligns with workforce development funders focused on young adults with barriers to employment.
The 15 tiny homes provide permanent transitional housing — an increasingly prioritized model for philanthropic housing funders tackling youth homelessness in metro areas.
Our document library includes the full Business Plan, Financial Projections, Program Structure overview, and Executive Summary — all available for funders and partners.