As the morning light slants its way through the willow overstory, down into the midstory buckeyes, and falls dappled onto a bed of fresh woodchips, scrub jays dance in the boughs in search of insects. Between the creek banks, small fish sway in the shallow pools of Pinole Creek.
On any given Tuesday by the Pinole Library, you might hear the thud of the mallet echoing through the trees. The mallet belongs to the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District (CCRCD), but the capable arm that swings it belongs to a participant in our Pinole Creek Unhoused Stewards Project. The participant is hammering willow cuttings along the bank that will root and grow tall, providing cover for animals and protecting the banks from erosion during flood events.
The Unhoused Stewards Project began in May 2025, as part of the larger Resilient And Equitable Urban Stream Corridors Project run by UC Davis and other partners. The CCRCD teamed up with Safe Organized Spaces (SOS) Richmond to deliver this program with the goal of equipping unhoused individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to enter the green workforce. Environmentalists rarely consider the unhoused as potential allies, yet there is evidence that underserved groups have just as much interest in environmental issues as those more commonly seen engaged in stewardship.
During our initial 8-week ecological literacy course, it was a joy to experience folks’ enthusiasm for learning to identify plants, or bringing an engaged silliness to a group skit about the history of conservation. The nine program participants were not afraid to challenge us, forcing us to teach creatively and reevaluate our assumptions. Four individuals selected from this larger group, equipped with a solid foundation of ecological knowledge, continued for several months restoring habitat along Pinole Creek. The work culminated in a collaborative workday with Friends of Pinole Creek Watershed, with the cohort guiding volunteers in building rock-lined paths, planting local natives, and caging plants to protect them from hungry deer.
Environmental programs that provide unhoused participants with transitional experiences to assist them in their journey towards steady employment are still exceedingly rare. By combining unhoused workforce development with habitat restoration, we give vulnerable people and landscapes a second chance, establishing a system of mutual care.
To learn more about the Pinole Creek Unhoused Stewards project, please check out this KQED piece featuring the project.
