Community First! (CF) Replication Pathway
Empowering a community that embodies and sustainably implements the Community First! model to transform homelessness.
Community First (CF) Replication Pathway
Empowering a community who embodies and sustainably implements the Community First! Model to transform homelessness.
want to do what we do?
Over the years, many people across the country and sometimes the world have connected with Mobile Loaves & Fishes to study and implement our Community First! model. There is no playbook to pass along. Instead, we share an invitation to journey with us and other organizations along what we refer to as our “Replication Pathway.”
MLF’s name is inspired by the miracle of the loaves and fishes, in which Jesus’s disciples found that their five loaves of bread and two fishes were enough to feed thousands with plenty left over. By learning together and sharing challenges and accomplishments with others who are immersed in similar work, we participate in this mystery of abundance as a compassionate group of Community First! replicators beyond Austin, Texas.
We moved our first neighbor into Community First! Village in 2016. That’s also when we began responding to interest about MLF and Community First! Village by hosting our first Symposium for Goodness’ Sake. We’ve since redesigned the Symposium to more effectively communicate the necessary components of the Community First! model. Additionally, we established the Replication Pathway to include a variety of educational offerings and resources to support organizations and individuals who are different stages of replicating the Community First! model.
Created by Mobile Loaves & Fishes, the Community First! model has proven to be effective in Austin in our efforts to mitigate the pandemic of homelessness. We also have seen our model work for other organizations across the country to address homelessness in their respective communities.
Community First! Model Principles
organizations we’ve engaged with
Our introductory replication offerings
Virtual Seminar
- $$
- Interested in going deeper on a specific CF model component? If you have specific questions about a program or topic at MLF, this is the best way to learn more and get your questions answered by a staff member.
- 1 Hour
- One-Off
- Open to anyone
Replication Tour
- $
- A good way to see the Village in person, meet a member of MLF’s Replication Team, and discuss your questions about replicating our model.
- 1.5 Hours
- One-Off
- Open to anyone
Vision Catalyst
- $$$
- For leaders at replicating organizations who want to bring key stakeholders, collaborators and vison enablers to experience the Village firsthand and better understand what it is you are working to replicate. Formerly referred to as the Abbreviated Symposium.
- 5.5 Hours in 1 Day
- One-Off
- Open to sponsoring organization & their guests only
The replication pathway: core offerings
Symposium for Goodness’ Sake
- $$$
- Individuals, groups and organizations who are exploring replicating the Community First! model.
- 2.5 Days
- One-Off
- Open to anyone. Intended for those working with a replicating organization.
Community First! Transformational Leadership (CFTL) Training
- $$$
- Leaders at replicating organizations who want to develop and practice the leadership skills necessary to lead and shape the culture at your own organization and beyond.
- 3 Days plus a coaching session
- One-Off
- Only open to Symposium alumni; by application only.
stay in the loop
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“So appreciative of your example of goodness!”
“This journey has been most incredible and hard to believe you value our small part in the journey. I love coming together with like minded people on the same path.”
“I’m so thankful for our relationship with MLF. Thank you for your intentionality and openness to talk about the struggles and joys.”
“It’s a dose of reality mixed with encouragement and direct guidance on what to do and what not to do.”
“The CFTL Training is just right — it’s the right length and it is packed with such meaningful information.”
“I think your philosophy around this topic is the most valuable thing that was shared.”
“The CFTL Training gave me the space, time and structure to own my strengths and break down barriers to maximizing my growth potential as a leader & entrepreneur.”
“Thank you for the incredible inspirational, positive, and hopeful perspective you shared. Honestly, it was less about the information, and more about the faithful, loving, and goodness-filled encouragement for me!”
“The intentionality of building this for us to grow and go back to our context to apply these lessons is extremely powerful!”
“I really enjoyed the time, learned a tremendous amount, and came away with some specific action points.”
“This is a powerful workshop that empowers individuals to show up fully in their skills, gifts, and community. It provides an opportunity to shift your lens and transition into impactful, courageous leadership.”
Replication FAQs
If you want to use verbiage from our website, we ask that you cite us. You are welcome to provide a hyperlink to MLF.org. Plagiarizing us is unethical. On the other hand, explaining what about MLF/CFV inspires you is a better way to communicate your own vision and the unique context of your organization. Pictures taken at the CFV should also be cited. It can create confusion and erode trust if what you eventually develop on your property is not the same as the pictures from the you included from CFV.
Due to consideration of our neighbors’ privacy and the overall operations of the Village, this is prohibited unless given express permission by the Communications Team. You can find existing press coverage & downloadable logos here.
MLF’s Community First! Model is not a franchise model. Inherent to the Community First! Model is enrolling various members, businesses, entities, organizations to contribute towards your local expression of Community First! Local buy-in and investment into your replication of Community First! is necessary to get launched and will help it to continue to operate to mitigate homelessness in your city. By attending the Symposium for Goodness’ Sake and learning more about our fundraising, volunteer & partnership development approaches through our seminars and workshops, you will learn how to cast vision and enroll stakeholders in your city to mitigate and transform homelessness through putting Community First!
If you want some information on a one-off basis, we recommend that you make use of our virtual seminars. If you’d like to see the Village firsthand but you are still gathering information about our model or don’t have a lot of time, make use of the Replication Tours. Otherwise, if you’re really fired up about replicating the CF Model, we do recommend that you attend a Symposium, which will also be a prerequisite for applying to participate in additional events on the Replication Pathway like the Community First! Transformational Leadership Training & Cohort.
The Vision Catalyst is designed for your organization to sponsor the event for the key stakeholders you want to catch your vision. Typical attendees include state/local government officials and vision enablers — board members, key donors, and leaders of partner organizations.
We are not currently offering on-site stays, but we do have a short list of nearby accommodations!
Interesting and Unique Accommodations Nearby:
- KOA (Glamping experience with cabins and RVs available, 3 minutes away)
- Airbnb or Vrbo (A variety of nearby spaces from 5-15 minutes away)
We know that many people transitioning out of chronic homelessness struggle with substance use, and we choose to accept people where they’re at and walk with them as they settle into community and pursue recovery. We make mental health care and recovery support services available to our neighbors in partnership with service providers. Any organization aspiring to replicate the Community First! model will need to consider the issues for the vulnerable population they choose to serve and will need to assemble support around them, including a commitment to being in relationship with them as they navigate substance use disorders and recovery.
Above, we described our partnership-based model for resources and funding. For specific details, you can read more about our $150 million capital campaign for Community First! Village expansion. Additionally, we have our latest annual report as well as financial audits and Form 990s dating back to 2000 to read on Mobile Loaves & Fishes’ financials page. Your funding requirements and ability to fundraise will depend on your level of community engagement and local economic factors. To learn more about MLF-specific fundraising philosophy, strategies and tactics, attend the Symposium for Goodness’ Sake and virtual seminars that focus on fund development.
The Community First! approach enables the development of truly affordable housing by using land that’s not bound by restrictive local zoning laws, which helps change the way people think about and interact with the neighbors once the community is built. Strategizing around NIMBYism means developing on land where restrictive zoning laws are either not present, as is the case in all county land in the state of Texas, or where other protections override these laws, such as religious or civil rights protections. Our Community First! approach then works to gain the support of surrounding neighbors as well as the broader community by finding underused spaces and turning them into safe, dignified and beautiful places where everyone can come and live, work and serve alongside one another. The community empowerment involved in our Community First! approach is more fundamental than any one aspect of housing type or site design that we have chosen for Community First! Village. We recommend you start by understanding your local area’s zoning, regulation and best practices for building and site development. Your local architects and builders may be good resources.
Since Community First! Village is designed to provide a place of permanence for men and women who are transitioning out of chronic homelessness, we look to retention rate as a key indicator of how well our formerly homeless neighbors are able to settle into the community and establish the Village as their permanent home.
Mobile Loaves & Fishes has a basic philosophy that housing alone will never solve homelessness, but community will. Most often, we find people on the streets who have a regular, albeit dysfunctional, community, even though they have no houses or shelter to live in. So the fundamental component that human beings need is human interaction; and human interaction occurs within community.
In Texas, there is no discretionary land use authority outside of municipal boundaries. “Not in my backyard” (NIMBY) resistance most often leverages zoning to discriminate against populations of people they would prefer not to have in or near their neighborhoods. Community First! Village sits just outside of the City of Austin city limits; therefore, there is no zoning. We do, however, have to comply with certain state regulations involving density and water quality. If you’re interested in understanding discretionary land use authority or zoning in your community, we recommend consulting with a land use expert specific to your state.
No, Community First! Village provides permanent supportive housing. The intent is that any individual who qualifies can live in the Village permanently, providing they pay their rent, abide by civil law and follow the rules of the community.
Since we began moving neighbors into Community First! Village in December 2015, we have experienced an average retention rate of approximately 85%. (Updated February 2023)
Each potential resident at Community First! Village is required to complete the Coordinated Entry Assessment intake, be fingerprinted and submit to a criminal background check processed by the FBI. Then, on a case-by-case basis, qualified personnel will review the applicant for their compatibility with Community First! Village and the community at large. Registered sex offenders are the only individuals who are strictly prohibited from living in Community First! Village.
One of our goals at Mobile Loaves & Fishes is to transform the way people view the stereotype of individuals who find themselves homeless. After more than two decades of serving and working within the homeless population, we believe the stereotype of chronically homeless individuals as it relates to crime is actually wrong. Chronically homeless individuals are among the most vulnerable and most often are the victims of crime, as opposed to being the perpetrators of crime.
Every neighborhood in any city at any time is susceptible to some level of criminal activity. Neighborhoods can mitigate potential criminal activity through strong vigilance. The very essence of Community First! Village is neighbor looking after neighbor. Crime statistics for the three mile area surrounding Community First! Village show a dramatic contrast to what we experience in our neighborhood. According to the Travis County Sheriff’s office, Community First! Village typically has fewer calls than many apartment complexes of similar size. We are hopeful that our model and vigilance can be transferred to our surrounding neighbors so that they, too, can experience the safety and refuge that our residents enjoy at Community First! Village.
Unfortunately, we don’t currently have the capability to deliver the Symposium online. We think that spending time on-site at Community First! Village is the best way to truly experience the community, and we’ve designed a three-day learning opportunity to help those who are interested in this model to learn more.
We’ve had many individuals attend a Symposium who haven’t yet secured their nonprofit status, and they’ve used a variety of means to raise the funds for the trip to Austin. Some have used GoFundMe or other crowdfunding platforms, while others have reached out to friends and loved ones directly for support. Community First! Village is an $18 million undertaking, and each year we have to raise much of the operating revenue because rent only covers a small portion of the funds needed to care for our neighbors. Thus, the ability to raise funds is an important piece of pursuing our overall vision. We encourage you to look at the Symposium as your first investment in the future of your own community.
How is Community First! Distinct from Housing First?
A Housing First response to chronic homelessness involves providing housing and offering professional services to those experiencing homelessness. Over the years building relationships with our homeless friends and listening to their stories, we’ve come to understand that chronic homelessness exists at the intersection of many broken systems and layers of family trauma — and after these experiences, homelessness itself only adds more layers of trauma. Collectively, this means that homelessness is a complex problem that no single institutional intervention can address. We seek to provide a relational approach that mitigates the trauma of homelessness in ways that transactional approaches alone cannot.
While aspects of the Community First! model have been adapted from the Housing First model, MLF’s underlying beliefs and values extend beyond housing alone to providing what government systems or social services on their own cannot: community.
Questions about our Replication Pathway? Please email replication@mlf.org.
