Community First! Village, is an innovative and successful model for transforming the lives of our homeless neighbors.
Community First! Village is a 51-acre master planned development for the chronically homeless in Austin, TX, offering permanent affordable housing and a variety of opportunities for the residents to make a dignified income.
"It is specifically designed to lift the chronically homeless off the streets of the Austin area and offer them a place to call home, helping them to heal from the ravages of life on the streets, allowing them to rediscover a purpose in their lives, and then going out and beginning to care for others in the world."
Alan Graham, CEO of Mobile Loaves & Fishes
Alan defines chronically homeless as “an unaccompanied male or female with a disabling condition who has lived on the streets for at least a year".
The residential candidates are selected based on a coordinated assessment which determines their vulnerability.
The residents are given the opportunity to earn a dignified income working at the Village in various areas such as the maintenance department, the Community Gardens, the Community Cinema, or the Community Inn. With access to an “art house” and blacksmith shop, residents also have the opportunity to produce handmade goods that are sold at the Community Market.
Community First! Village's concept is anchored around furnished micro-homes, tents, and RV's providing comfortable and affordable independent living areas supported by common amenities such as shared kitchens and bathrooms. The village is designed to promote community living. Some of the other amenities include the health center, places for study and fellowship, community bicycles, walking trails, memorial gardens, and a bus stop for the residents and visitors.
Community First! Village not only provides housing for the chronically homeless but it is also the home of people who have never been homeless. Some of these residents are on staff , some are work campers who work on the property in exchange for their RV hook-up and some are missional residents.
(clockwise from upper left) - Tammy, formerly homeless - Joel Jackson, work camper - Nancy Miller, missional resident - Larry Crawford, director of maintenance and construction.
It is all about the transformative power of community! This cross-section of people living and working together is essential to the uniqueness - and success - of Community First! Village.
Links to some additional vignettes around the Village:
Soap Making
Village of Lights
”Penney Lane”
-For a great read, check out Alan Graham’s book Welcome Homeless, One Man’s Journey of Discovering the Meaning of Home.
-you can also purchase the blu-ray of our film from their online market by clicking here.
“It was one of the greatest experiences in 20+ years of ministry sitting in the Alamo Drafthouse and being blown away by the powerful stories conveyed in your documentary. ”