HomeAid Austin, Local Homebuilders End Homelessness For Eight Individuals, Just In Time For Holidays

AUSTIN – November 23, 2020 – HomeAid, one of 19 chapters nationwide, partnered with seven homebuilders to construct eight permanent micro-homes at Community First! Village in East Austin. Homelessness is on the rise in Austin and across the country largely due to job loss and lacks the lack of affordable housing.

Mobile Loaves & Fishes (MLF), the non-profit organization that developed Community First!

Village cites the catastrophic loss of family as the number one cause of homelessness, but eight individuals will now be surrounded by a loving family of neighbors, just in time for the holidays.

Community First! provides residents with supportive services, opportunities to earn a dignified income, and various options for affordable housing.

HomeAid Executive Director, Melissa Nicewarner Daly, said, “We believe everyone deserves a place to call home. These eight tiny homes represent the compassion of the homebuilding industry and boast top-of-the-line craftsmanship that you would expect from a new home builder. Through donations of labor and materials, our builder captains and trade partners enabled HomeAid to save MLF $204,000. This is money MLF can instead invest in their operations and program.”

Builder Captains for the Community First! Village group projects include CCG Development, Cumby Development, David Weekley Homes, Lennar, Scott Felder Homes, Taylor Morrison, and Trendmaker Homes.

Alan Graham, Founder, and CEO of MLF commented, “We are so grateful for our partnership with HomeAid during this past year. Their assistance has made it possible for Mobile Loaves & Fishes to continue lifting our homeless neighbors off the streets and moving them into community and home, even amidst the global pandemic and economic recession. As a bonus, the builders are also furnishing the homes, so they are completely ready for their new residents. These efforts and the funds raised toward the project means these homes were built and furnished at no cost to MLF. We are grateful for the goodness that HomeAid continues to bring to our community!”

In the fall of 2018, MLF took a significant step in its ongoing effort to mitigate homelessness in Austin with the first expansion of Community First! Village.

Phase II of the Village is directly adjacent to the Phase I development and adds an additional 24 acres – bringing the entire property to 51 acres and more than 500 homes.

Phase II of the Village will utilize the existing infrastructure of Phase I and will add these structures and amenities:

• 110 RV/Park Homes
• 200 Micro-homes
• 7 Laundry/Restroom/Shower Facilities
• 7 Outdoor Kitchens
• Community Gardens
• Community Works Entrepreneur Hub
• Donor Recognition Park
• Guest Parking Lot
• Living Room

HomeAid Austin’s mission is to build new lives for Austin’s homeless through housing and community outreach and is the local chapter of HomeAid America. HomeAid is the leading national non-profit provider of housing for families and individuals experiencing homelessness and has sheltered more than 300,000 people in its 32-year history. Working in partnership with the Home Builders Association of Greater Austin, HomeAid Austin’s mission is accomplished through the donation of construction services and materials from members of the homebuilding industry. HomeAid Austin partners with existing homeless care providers and expands their capacity to serve those at risk of or experiencing homelessness by assisting them with their renovations and ground-up construction projects. HomeAid Austin currently serves six counties in the Greater Austin Area including Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Lee, Travis, and Williamson counties. For more information about HomeAid Austin, visit www.homeaidaustin.org.