Alan Graham on Housing, Community and Solving Homelessness

Watch the Full Episode

For those experiencing homelessness in Austin, support can come from a variety of nonprofits and community programs. One such organization is Mobile Loaves & Fishes, a nonprofit founded by Alan Graham. Graham's nonprofit has earned national recognition for its work on Community First! Village, a master-planned community providing affordable, permanent housing for people coming out of chronic homelessness.

In this episode of the Changing Austin Podcast, powered by Amplify Credit Union, Graham discusses how Community First! Village grew from a single R/V to a thriving community in East Austin. Now home to more than 420 residents, Community First! Village has become a national model for permanent supportive housing, with plans to ultimately serve 1,900 residents.

The conversation explores the enduring challenge of homelessness in Austin, addressing common misconceptions about the people served by Mobile Loaves & Fishes and other nonprofits. Graham also explains why homelessness is a solvable issue for cities like Austin and why communities should invest in long-term housing solutions that restore dignity, stability, and connection.

Release date: July 2026

Guest: Alan Graham, Founder & CEO, Mobile Loaves & Fishes

Duration: 26 minutes

Sponsor: Amplify Credit Union

Timecodes:

02:37

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From One R/V to a Village: How Community First! Village has grown from a single R/V to a planned community offering affordable, permanent housing to people coming out of chronic homelessness.

07:22

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Addressing Homelessness Together: Why addressing homelessness requires collaboration among nonprofits, local government and community organizations rather than any one organization working alone.

14:38

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Homelessness as a Solvable Challenge: Why Graham believes homelessness is a solvable challenge for cities like Austin, Texas and Des Moines, Iowa, and why communities should resist treating it as an insurmountable issue.

19:17

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Building Community with Food: Why food has become central to life at Community First! Village and why Mobile Loaves & Fishes says it hosts more "potlucks per capita" than anywhere in the world.

What Is Mobile Loaves & Fishes?

Since 1998, Mobile Loaves & Fishes has empowered communities into lifestyles of service with those experiencing homelessness. Its signature program is Community First! Village, a planned community that provides affordable, permanent housing for those in need. It is currently home to 420 residents and aims to provide housing and community for 1900 residents once completed.

Founded: 1998

Location: 9116 Hog Eye Road, Building 3405

Mission: Mobile Loaves & Fishes provides food and clothing, cultivates community and promotes dignity to our homeless brothers and sisters in need.

Type: Nonprofit

Website: mlf.org

Memorable Quotes from Alan Graham

Alan Graham

Founder & CEO, Mobile Loaves & Fishes

The single greatest cause to homelessness is a profound, catastrophic loss of family and loss of community.

Come out to the Village, and I and an extraordinary team will personally give you a tour.

We have more potlucks per capita than anywhere in the world.

Our big mission right now is to get Washington to change. And it’s trying to.

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How Community First! Village Approaces Housing, Community, and Solving Homelessness