Questions about Life at Community First! Village- Mobile Loaves & Fishes

What makes Community First! Village unique?

It’s all about relationships. Mobile Loaves & Fishes desires to empower the community around us into a lifestyle of service with the homeless. We achieve this vision through Community First! Village by taking a relational approach for connecting with our homeless brothers and sisters, instead of a transactional approach. When we bring an individual [...]

How large is Community First! Village and how many neighbors live there?

Community First! Village is currently a master planned community, designed specifically for men and women who are coming out of chronic homelessness. As of June 2026, more than 500 individuals are living in Community First! Village. Of this number, just more than 455 of them are formerly homeless men and women who have transitioned [...]

Is Community First! Village considered transitional housing?

No, Community First! Village provides permanent supportive housing. The intent is that any individual who qualifies can live in the Village permanently, providing they pay their rent, abide by civil law and follow the rules of the community.

What is the retention rate at Community First! Village?

Since we began moving neighbors into Community First! Village in December 2015, we have experienced an average retention rate of approximately 85%. (Updated February 2023)

Who is eligible to live in Community First! Village?

To be eligible to live in Community First! Village, you must: Be chronically homeless Chronic Homelessness is defined as living in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or an emergency shelter for at least 12 months (or at least 4 separate occasions in the last 3 years, as long as [...]

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 [...]

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. Spaces and platforms where neighbors can build relationships, connect with their community, address conflict, repair harm and heal from relational harms provided [...]

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: 9116 Hog Eye Road, Building 3405, Austin, TX 78724.

Which bus goes to Community First! Village?

CapMetro Route 18 serves Community First! Village. Both the 18 Eastbound and 18 Westbound routes depart every 30 minutes. Here is a link to the CapMetro Schedule page for Route 18.

Community First! Village Life

6,915,500

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

39,812

HOURS SERVED in 2025 by dedicated volunteers in Community First! Village.

SUPPORT OUR MISSION

440

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

$1MM

DIGNIFIED INCOME earned by Village neighbors in 2025 through Community Works and other micro-enterprise opportunities.

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