Questions about Community First! Village

Are people with criminal records allowed to live in Community First! Village?

Each potential resident at Community First! Village is required to complete the Coordinated Entry Assessment intake, be fingerprinted and submit to a criminal background check processed by the FBI. Then, on a case-by-case basis, qualified personnel will review the applicant for their compatibility with Community First! Village and the community at large. Registered sex [...]

Are you concerned about crime in Community First! Village?

One of our goals at Mobile Loaves & Fishes is to transform the way people view the stereotype of individuals who find themselves homeless. After more than two decades of serving and working within the homeless population, we believe the stereotype of chronically homeless individuals as it relates to crime is actually wrong. Chronically homeless [...]

What services are available to those living in Community First! Village?

There is a broad range of services available on-site to the residents of Community First! Village, including: Full-time behavioral health case managers through Integral Care. Primary healthcare services provided by CommUnityCare Health Centers. Service coordination, money management and case management provided by Family Eldercare. Spaces and platforms where neighbors can build relationships, connect with their [...]

Since you are a faith-based organization, will Community First! Village residents be required to participate in faith-related activities that happen in the community?

There is a spiritual life within Community First! Village, but no requirement to participate. Although Mobile Loaves & Fishes is a Christian faith-based organization, our first priority is the dignity of the human person. Additionally, we have made a commitment as part of our privilege of having tax exempt status to not discriminate against anyone. [...]

Where is Community First! Village located?

Community First! Village is located in northeast Travis County, not too far from the Travis County Exposition Center. The property is roughly eight miles from downtown Austin and is accessible by public transportation. The address for Community First! Village is: 9301 Hog Eye Rd. Austin, Texas 78724.

With Community First! Village, has Austin become a magnet for the chronically homeless?

No, the opening of Community First! Village has not resulted in Austin becoming a magnet to the chronically homeless population. It has, however, helped position Austin as a leader nationally in terms of what is possible when a community comes together to address an issue as serious as homelessness. We desire to see Community First! [...]

What kinds of rules are there in Community First! Village?

Individuals living in Community First! Village are required to follow three primary community covenants. Residents must: Pay rent on time. Abide by civil law. Follow the rules of the community itself (similar to a homeowners association for a neighborhood).

How can I get a tour of Community First! Village?

We offer public tours of Community First! Village on select Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays each month. You can view available dates and sign up for a tour here. Please note that if you are a prospective resident wanting to live in Community First! Village, the public tours are not the ones designed specifically for [...]

What is the best way for me to learn more about Community First! Village?

Start by perusing the Mobile Loaves & Fishes website. More about Community First! Village can be found here. You should also check out our ‘In the News’ page for a listing of stories about the Village. More than anything, we encourage you to attend one of our symposiums held throughout the year to learn more [...]

I want to learn more about what inspires the work of Mobile Loaves & Fishes. Do you have a recommended reading list?

Here are some of our favorite books that you’ll find on the bookshelves of the Mobile Loaves & Fishes team: A Spirituality of Fundraising Henri Nouwen (Upper Room, 2011) The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming Henri Nouwen (Image Books, 1994) Can You Drink the Cup? Henri Nouwen (Ave Maria Press, 2006) [...]

6,512,700

MEALS SERVED to the homeless in Central Texas through MLF’s food truck ministry.

28,998

HOURS SERVED in 2023 by dedicated volunteers in Community First! Village.

SUPPORT OUR MISSION

374

FORMERLY HOMELESS NEIGHBORS now living at home in Community First! Village.

$1.5MM

DIGNIFIED INCOME earned by Village neighbors in 2023 through Community Works and other micro-enterprise opportunities.

CONTACT US | CAREERS | FAQs | TRACKER LOGIN | GET OUR EMAILS | PRIVACY POLICY

FIND A TRUCK | APPLY FOR A HOME | VOLUNTEER | SHOP | GIVE NOW | GIVE MONTHLY

Community First! Approach