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Nobody ever thought that the good deed of feeding some homeless people in the Texas capital, Austin, would create a neighborhood where the homeless are no longer homeless.
But that’s exactly what happened to Community First! Village, inspired by Alan Graham, a Catholic who attributes everything to a weekend retreat.
“In 1996 I went to a men’s retreat called“ Christ Renews His Parish ”. It had a profound revelatory effect on my relationship with Christ, ”Graham told Catholic News Service during a telephone interview on September 22nd – his 37th wedding anniversary.
“I will tell everyone every day that without Christ renewing his parish and my Roman Catholic faith, this ministry would not exist,” he added. “If you look at our vision, mission, values and goals, as well as our core values, five of them are word for word from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.”
Graham started it all with the help of a few friends at Mobile Loaves & Fishes, which operated from a green minivan that was later converted into a food truck and offered “food with a side of hope”.
But what about the exclamation point in the middle of the name? For Graham, it’s first and foremost about building a community.
“We built this one operation on the ‘live first’ philosophy. We believe that housing is necessary, but it does not meet people’s needs. What humans need is human contact. That means you and I have to be connected, ”he said.
He added, “The corporate works of mercy are an indelible part of who we are organizationally, but the only way to live these physical works and the only way to restore the justice that we want to restore together is to live together . “
Unsurprisingly, “one of our heroes must be Mother Teresa. I flew my whole family to Rome four or five years ago when they were canonized, ”said Graham. It is necessary to take care of the hungry, the naked, the sick and the poor, he added, “if we really want to live our Christianity”.
Community first! Village has a mix of tiny homes and recreational vehicles on its Austin property. There is enough living space for around 150 formerly homeless people as well as almost 40 “missionals”, adults who have an open service of presence and an open door to get into conversation with the former street people.
But in the spirit of community building, there are structures on the entire site that are intended to bring the residents together, including communal dining rooms, an amphitheater for films and live performances, a wood shop, a ceramics shop and a forge.
There is also a chapel in which a church with 400 seats for worship is to be planned in an upcoming development phase.
Residents have to pay rent, but the monthly rent is only $ 44. There’s a bus stop in Community First! Village to get residents to work, but there are also plenty of jobs on site to make residents feel dignified and self-worthy.
Graham said the village is based on two verses from Genesis: Genesis 2:15, “shortly after God created the Garden of Eden,” with God’s commission to Adam and Eve to “take care of it, to tend it. And then the community element comes from Genesis 2:18: ‘God has recognized that it is not good for man to be alone.’ “
Ron Whitmer, a missionary with his wife, Darlene, said their involvement with Community First! Village started in the mid-2010s.
“Our church we visit has two of the Mobile Loaves & Fishes Trucks,” he said. “We were part of that ministry, and then our mission pastor encouraged us to come here and visit. He thought we could be a good match. “
When they said yes, they knew that in Ohio, spending time with one of their sons, wife, and five granddaughters would mean a lot less time. “It’s really a lifestyle change. And instead of being here three or four hours to get in your car and get out of it and see it in the rearview mirror, you don’t get it out of your mind, ”said Whitmer.
“We really didn’t decide that this would be where we would end up until we had volunteered out here and built some very meaningful and deep relationships with some of the neighbors,” he added. “When people move in, they are no longer homeless. You are a resident. I like to call them neighbors because that’s what they are. “
The service of Presence requires intent. “All missionals have a sign with a capital ‘M’ in their window so the neighbors know that if they see that ‘M’ in our window, they can knock on our door anytime,” said Whitmer.
Some mornings, as Community First, the Whitmers prepare a large amount of breakfast tacos in a communal kitchen – and make plenty of coffee! Villagers start their own day and exchange ideas with other residents.
There is also a men’s Bible study on Monday nights that usually ends with food and more conversation. And the occasional pickleball game can create conversation.
“Much of their experiences on the road are very transactional. You go to a local animal shelter, you take a number, they call your number and you get a bed, ”Whitmer told CNS in a phone interview on Sept. 23. “Here we would like to lead this transactional relationship to a heart-to-heart relationship in which we know you, are there for you and pay attention to your success.”
He added, “Our ultimate goal is to bring Christ to the community and this type of lifestyle so that they may see in us what we see in Christ.”
Community first! Village is based in Austin, but not necessarily unique to Austin. “The model is being replicated across the country. There are about a dozen or so replicators, ”said Graham.
“We are on the verge of understanding what it takes to be community first. Just because we say we are Community First, it takes time to understand what it means as we will be better prepared by God for what it means. “
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