Love Your Neighbor at Community First! Village
Join Austin Blessings Co-op as we build relationships, foster belonging, and serve alongside our neighbors in Community First! Village.
The Neighborhood
What is Community First! Village?
Community First! Village is a master-planned community developed by our long time partner Mobile Loaves & Fishes that provides affordable, permanent housing and a supportive neighborhood for individuals coming out of chronic homelessness.
Neighborhoods of Knowingness
MLF's Neighborhoods of Knowingness architectural design combines a mix of home models in pockets of approximately 40–50 homes. These homes are grouped around communal gathering spaces and shared facilities, helping neighbors connect naturally and consistently through everyday life.
Our Invitation to Neighboring
Austin Blessings Co-op with Riverbend Church are honored to become the first partners in this Neighborhood of Knowingness initiative.
Rather than focusing primarily on programs, our goal is to become good neighbors: building friendships, learning names, listening to stories, and creating opportunities for belonging.
Our Challenge
Residents in our adopted neighborhood (around a dozen currently) are very new to Community First! Village and are still establishing relationships and community connections.
Our Response
We are intentionally engaging, visiting, serving, and building relationships that help create a welcoming neighborhood environment.
Meet Our Neighborhood
Approximately a dozen residents currently live in the adopted neighborhood.
Most residents arrived within the past year.
Our volunteers will focus on building relationships and fostering community connection.
Missional Partner
Madeline
Madeline serves as a missional in our adopted neighborhood and helps create opportunities for connection, belonging, and mutual support among neighbors.
Opportunities to Serve
Volunteers may participate in:
Walking and visiting with neighbors
Community-building activities
Neighborhood gatherings
Special events
Relational support and encouragement
Practical service opportunities as needs arise
Volunteers
People willing to:
Build relationships
Listen well
Show up consistently
Represent Christ through presence and service
Ministry Champions
We would also like to identify 2–3 Ministry Champions
These leaders would help:
Organize volunteer participation
Communicate with team members
Encourage relationship-building efforts
Support long-term sustainability of the ministry
““I am excited and deeply honored to be part of this new chapter. Instead of trying to reach an entire village at once, we have the privilege of getting to know a few neighbors, serving alongside them, and receiving friendship as God’s gift. If that vision resonates with you, I invite you to come and join us, one neighbor at a time.””