‍

Blake, Wm. Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, 'But Martha Was Cumbered About Much Serving.' 1780.

‍

Community First Village in Austin is expanding to become one of the largest communities for homeless individuals.

The village offers 100 RVs and 125 micro-houses, along with community gardens, workspaces, playgrounds, recreational areas, parks, kitchens, and a dozen other group facilities. Rent ranges from $200 to $430 monthly.

The community space currently houses 200 formerly homeless residents and the organization began constructing additional facilities last year. Once complete, the village will be able to house almost 500 people.

The village was created by the Mobile Loaves & Fishes charity in 2014, and opened up to renters on the outskirts of Austin in 2019, with the mission of providing security to the homeless to heal from their years spent on the streets.

In fall of 2022, the mastermind behind both the charity and Community First announced an adjacent site that will take the number of tiny homes to 2,000, designed by architectural firms that offered pro-bono bids to design the best energy efficient homes.

The village has received significant funding, with the American Rescue Plan and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation each donating $35 million.