Please select a category for the Frequently Asked Questions
Mail checks to our secure bank lockbox:
Mobile Loaves & Fishes, Inc.
P. O. Box 224451
Dallas, TX 75222-4451
If you want to drop off cash or checks, our physical address is still:
Mobile Loaves & Fishes
9116 Hog Eye Road, Building 3405
Austin, TX 78724
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 into community with others, we truly begin to make a sustainable impact on their lives.
Mobile Loaves & Fishes believes that the single greatest cause of homelessness is a profound, catastrophic loss of family. That’s why our focus at Community First! Village is to do more than just provide adequate housing. We have developed a community with supportive services and amenities to help address an individual’s relational needs at a fraction of the cost of traditional housing initiatives. We seek to empower our neighbors to build relationships with others, and to experience healing and restoration as part of engaging with a broader community.
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 off of the streets of Austin, and nearly 50 of the neighbors living in the Village are considered our “intentional neighbors” — individuals who have not experienced chronic homelessness but live and serve in the Village on a regular basis. Once complete and at full capacity, Community First! Village will be home to about 1900 formerly homeless men and women and other intentional neighbors spread across 157 acres.
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 the combined occasions equal at least 12 months) and having at least one disability. - Have a verifiable source of income
- Be over the age of 18
- Have been in the Austin area for at least the past year (includes Travis, Williamson, Hays, Caldwell and Bastrop counties)
- Meet CFV criminal history requirements
See the full details on How to Apply for a Home at 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 by Life Anew.
- Addiction recovery and support services provided by Communities for Recovery.
- Dignified income opportunities through Mobile Loaves & Fishes’ Community Works program.
- Regular farmers market to provide residents with healthy, nutritious and free vegetables harvested from the Village’s many gardens.
- Help navigating healthcare needs (e.g., questions about health insurance, mobility aids, medical appointments, coordinating transportation to medical appointments and more) provided by our Neighbor Care team.
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Access and navigate healthcare services with assistance from the Black Men’s Health Clinic.
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Connect with Peer Support Specialists at Austin Mental Health Community.
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For neighbors who came to us via Austin Community Court, continue receiving Case Management services.
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For neighbors who were experiencing homelessness in Williamson County, continue receiving housing stability services from Bluebonnet Trails Community Services.
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Supplement your refrigerator, freezer and pantry by visiting our weekly food pantry sourced by the Central TX Food Bank.
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Once a month we have pro bono podiatry services.
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.
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.
Yes, like any successful real estate housing development, there are full-time on-site property managers at Community First! Village. We also have full-time maintenance staff on-site at the property.
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, our Potential Neighbor Tour is now an on-demand video that you can watch any time! Please visit the Potential Neighbor Tour page to watch.
What is the best way for me to learn more about Mobile Loaves & Fishes and Community First! Village?
Please check out our About Us page to continue learning more.
Last Updated February 15, 2023
Mobile Loaves & Fishes has many volunteer opportunities and is grateful for your willingness to serve. We encourage you to visit our volunteer page to explore available opportunities.
Last Updated February 15, 2023
We love volunteer groups! If your group has 5 or more people, please visit our Group Serve Days page to make arrangements.
Last Updated February 15, 2023
There’s a variety of projects available for Eagle and Girl Scouts who are interested in gardening, construction, landscaping, event planning, art, technology, and more. Learn about what these projects look like at Community First! Village and fill out our volunteer request form.
Last Updated February 15, 2023
Volunteers are the backbone of Mobile Loaves & Fishes’ food truck ministry. Our truck runs operate out of different locations based on our partnerships with supporting truck communities. Specific opportunities vary from one MLF truck community to another. Please see our Truck Ministry volunteer page for next steps on getting plugged in.
Last Updated February 15, 2023
Yes, your donation is tax deductible. Mobile Loaves & Fishes is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Last Updated February 15, 2023
You bet! We refer to our recurring donors as Everyday Angels. Supporters who are Everyday Angels provide monthly gifts that enable Mobile Loaves & Fishes to provide ongoing support for Community First! Village and for our homeless friends through the Truck Ministry. You can start your monthly donation at mlf.org/everyday-angels.
Last Updated February 15, 2023
Absolutely! Leading a crowdfunding campaign is a great way to support Mobile Loaves & Fishes – and much appreciated! Please click here to fill out a fundraising page request form, and we’ll get back to you with next steps. We are grateful for your support!
Last Updated February 15, 2023
You can select Greatest Need or Community First! Village on the dropdown menu on our online donation form. Donations to specific truck communities can be made on the MLF Truck Ministry donation page where you can select your preferred community in the dropdown menu. If you prefer to give through mail with a personal check or through your charitable giving account, simply indicate the community or program in the memo line.
Mail checks to our secure bank lockbox:
Mobile Loaves & Fishes, Inc.
P. O. Box 224451
Dallas, Texas 75222-4451
If you want to drop off cash or checks, our physical address is still:
Mobile Loaves & Fishes
9116 Hog Eye Road, Building 3405
Austin, TX 78724
Last Updated February 15, 2023
On MLF’s online donation form, please check “Dedicate my donation in honor or in memory of someone” and complete the information. E-cards will be sent immediately and postal cards are sent within a couple weeks.
Last Updated February 15, 2023
We are grateful to individuals, organizations and businesses that hold fundraising events benefiting Mobile Loaves & Fishes. Funds raised during such events enable MLF to provide food, clothing and promote dignity to our homeless brothers and sisters in need. If you are interested in holding your own fundraising event, please click here to read our fundraising guidelines and fill out an Event Application. An authorized MLF representative must approve your Event Application before publishing the name or logo of Mobile Loaves & Fishes or promoting the event.
Last Updated February 15, 2023
To make an in-kind donation of goods or services, please see our current list of needs on our Housewarming Gifts page. Please email donate@mlf.org with any questions.
Last Updated February 15, 2023
Donations made to Mobile Loaves & Fishes are non-refundable. Please contact us at 512.328.7299 within 30 days from the date of your donation if you identify an error in the amount of payment or to report unauthorized usage of your credit or debit card.
Last Updated February 15, 2023
When making an online donation, please be sure that you have filled out ALL REQUIRED FIELDS on the donation form. Required fields are denoted with an asterisk (*). Please also include your email address, as this will allow us to send you a receipt for your donation. If you have filled out all the fields and are still having trouble submitting the donation form, please contact us at donate@mlf.org so we can further assist you.
Last Updated February 15, 2023
Please contact Mobile Loaves & Fishes at donate@mlf.org or 512.328.7299 to update your payment information. Please DO NOT send your credit card or bank information to MLF via email. If you are an Everyday Angel, you can make edits to your account by clicking on ‘Manage your Account’ on the bottom of your last receipt.
Last Updated February 15, 2023
You can join the email list for Mobile Loaves & Fishes by signing up here.
Last Updated February 15, 2023
MLF’s logo is available for download in .png and .jpg formats here on our website. Please note, the Mobile Loaves & Fishes logos, other trademarks, service marks, photos or copyrighted materials must not be used on any materials (print or electronic) without express written consent of MLF. Please email MLF’s communications team at communications@mlf.org to inquire about permission for your project.
Last Updated February 15, 2023
Please email MLF’s communications team at communications@mlf.org to discuss your specific requirements.
Last Updated February 15, 2023
Click here to see our full Privacy Policy.
Last Updated February 15, 2023
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Last Updated February 15, 2023
