Our speaker will be Daryl Ball, a resident of Community First! Village, a tiny house community founded by Alan Graham. A master planned community just east of Austin, more than 200 people who were once chronically homeless live in tiny homes and RVs. Everyone who lives at Community First! pays rent, ranging from $225 to $430 per month; many residents are employed on site. Daryl first showed us a video about the Community First! Village, which was started by Alan Graham of Mobil Loaves and Fishes as a planned community for the homeless. As part of the community there are opportunities for work for the residents and the village creates a family and community for the residents. Community First! Village is completely privately funded as a 501(c)(3) charity. Before being able to come and live there, each potential resident has an assessment. The Community First! Village is meant to serve the segment of the homeless population that cannot get housing elsewhere. The Village has an 88% retention rate; each resident can stay as long as he or she wants. There are currently 200 residents, and they are starting phase two to add 320 more residences. They will also be adding a medical facility and adding to their organic farm. Daryl also told us his story about how he came to live as a missonal at the Community First! Village and how it has transformed his life. He has been in construction related businesses since the 1980s, and came to Austin via Houston Texas 4 years ago to work for Chamberlin Roofing and Waterproofing. It was through the encouragement of his company that he became involved in local organizations and the community in a way to give back to others and mentor other employees as well. Daryl, with the support of Chamberlin started leading volunteer groups building tiny homes within the new Community First! Village. It wasn’t long that the desire came to do even more with his off time, and Alan Graham suggested the idea of being a missional resident. Kind of a long term, part time mission but at home rather than overseas. After building many homes the village, January of 2019 Daryl gave away all the furniture in his home at Steiner Ranch and purchased a 38 foot RV and moved on site as a missional at Community First! Village. Now Daryl works his normal career at Chamberlin through the week but spends his nights and weekends serving the homeless and the formerly homeless.