"We're all about forming
relationships here," Matt, the assistant property manager, told us when we
asked about the purpose behind the permanent community that's taking shape on
the western side of Austin. Through a slow but constant process, a ministry
originating in 1998 with five men who wanted to love their neighbors has
become much more than a minivan loaded with food.
Mobile Loaves & Fishes now has a
fleet of modified catering trucks that serve food, clothing, hygiene items, and
other life sustaining material to homeless people in Austin and other
communities. In a quote on their website,
Alan Graham, a founder and now president
of the organization, says, "Everything we do is about relationships. The
biggest lesson we have learned over the years is that we are not a food
ministry. We merely use food as a conduit to connect human to human and heart
to heart."
Community First! is one of a number
of Mobile Loaves & Fishes' projects. Their website describes the village as
"a 27-acre master-planned community that will provide affordable,
sustainable housing and a supportive community for the disabled, chronically
homeless in Central Texas." From that description, I would have pictured
cinder-block buildings in tidy rows with (perhaps) a community garden and a
recreation room. That's not at all what we found.
As we drove up, the first things we
noticed were enormous teepees. Later, we found that these were bed and
breakfast spaces for volunteers. Dean immediately noticed the large movie
screen, which (through
Alamo Drafthouse) will be used for free outdoor movies
for the community.
As we walked around, we saw the
mobile home park, the oldest part of the community. Across the center road, past
a central area with a dining tent, gardens, chickens, a giant chess board, and
a memorial marker for residents who have died, miniature homes and canvas
cottages face meandering paths. The variety of homes is remarkable. Matt told
us there were several models, but it seemed no two were identical, although all
of them were attractive. Homes were at all stages of completion, and workers
were everywhere.
This is not institutional housing.
I think my favorite moment was when
we passed a house that was built, but didn't yet have its siding in place. The
pine walls were covered with handwritten Bible verses of blessing, conveying
the hopes and prayers of the builders for the future residents of the home.
Matt told us that whenever a resident moves in, there's a blessing ceremony,
welcoming the new resident to the community.
He told us there's a kind of
community on the street, but when people are moved into housing in an existing
community, sometimes the former homeless person feels ostracized, in part
because they've lost the community they've had. That's why, he
said, "we're all about forming relationships here."
The community is designed to serve
people whose housing needs have no other way of being effectively met. Except
for ten "missional" families who live on site, the residents of the
community have been chronically homeless (for at least a year in Travis County)
and must have an assessed disability. All residents agree to abide by three
rules (these rules are detailed in agreements that each resident signs before
becoming part of the community). Basically, each resident agrees to obey civil
law, pay rent, and obey community rules.
The community also includes a
medical clinic, an art studio, extensive produce gardens, goats, beehives,
chickens for meat and eggs, and a smithy. The entire community has internet.
The micro-homes and canvas cottages rely on shared kitchens and bath houses
within 150 feet of their doors. Each resident has his or her own secure space
for keeping food in their kitchen. There are currently two chapels, where
residents and volunteers can pray or, if they want, "yell at God,"
Matt said. Soon, a new building with offices, creative spaces, a computer area,
classrooms and a sanctuary for worship services will be built near the center
of the community.
Churches and faith-based
organizations have obviously been involved in the project since the
beginning. I wondered if the word
"goodness," which was present on various signs all over the property,
was a kind of code name for God's activity. After spending time at Community
First! Village, I think it probably is.
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