Puerto Rico has been hit with natural and economical disasters impacting the lives of many, specially the LGBT Older Adults (50+). This marginalized group has been confronted with social isolation, financial instability, homelessness, and food and water deprivation. These factors impact these individuals the most, reporting higher levels of anxiety, depression and deaths by suicide. Reconstruye Q assists in providing mental health services, case management, and assists in food sustainability.
Older adults, specially LGBT Older Adults, have been impacted the most by the economic decline, natural disasters, and COVID-19. The PR government reports higher levels of anxiety, depression and increase deaths by suicides. Despair and hopelessness is noted among these individuals that live, for the most part, alone and without children. In addition, we live in an island that is isolated and lacks the sovereignty to feed its own. The population is becoming "older" as the younger leave PR.
This project intends to provide food and water sustainability to the older LGBT adults by providing them the skills, supplies, and attention that they merit. Reconstruye Q project will assist, not just in short-term and long-term food sustainability, but also in providing them mental health supports, and assistance by professionals in the development of home-gardens in the hopes of making them a "jibarito/a urbano/a" (an urban farmer).
The long-term impact are numerous. It is our wish to have a healthier LGBT Older Adult in Puerto Rico with less worries and anxiety about where they will acquire their next meal; plus will provide an incentive to communities for food sustainability and potential increase of revenue (with the sales of the extra vegetables and fruits).
