Lucy Tompkins

And as he's serving meals year after year, he really gets to know the people who were living on Austin streets. And he notices that they're there year after year. And he gets really frustrated that nobody seems to be actually helping to move people into homes. And then one day he's out at some ranch land and there's an RV parked there. And staring at it, he has what he describes as an epiphany.

And as he's serving meals year after year, he really gets to know the people who were living on Austin streets. And he notices that they're there year after year. And he gets really frustrated that nobody seems to be actually helping to move people into homes. And then one day he's out at some ranch land and there's an RV parked there. And staring at it, he has what he describes as an epiphany.

What if he could create a mobile home park specifically for the chronically homeless where everybody has sort of a shared history and where you could sort of foster a sense of community that that could help people remain stable?

What if he could create a mobile home park specifically for the chronically homeless where everybody has sort of a shared history and where you could sort of foster a sense of community that that could help people remain stable?

So he goes to the mayor and proposes an idea. He says, if you give me the land or lease me the land, I'll make this project happen. I'll raise the money. I'll manage it. And we can do it wherever there's space.

So he goes to the mayor and proposes an idea. He says, if you give me the land or lease me the land, I'll make this project happen. I'll raise the money. I'll manage it. And we can do it wherever there's space.

The mayor likes the idea. He agrees to it. The city council unanimously approves giving Alan this land. Things are moving forward. But then when the neighbors find out, they, as you might imagine, are not very happy about it.

The mayor likes the idea. He agrees to it. The city council unanimously approves giving Alan this land. Things are moving forward. But then when the neighbors find out, they, as you might imagine, are not very happy about it.

So they raise all these objections in neighborhood meetings and before the city council.

So they raise all these objections in neighborhood meetings and before the city council.

They think putting all of these people with the same issues in one place is concentrating poverty and trauma, and in the face of all that, the city council backtracks.

They think putting all of these people with the same issues in one place is concentrating poverty and trauma, and in the face of all that, the city council backtracks.

And puts the project on hold.

And puts the project on hold.

But Alan is undeterred and he finds a way. So he leverages all his business connections and raises $20 million, and he decides to buy a piece of land just outside the city limits. So in 2015, Community First Village becomes a reality. He moves the first people in. At first, they're just living in canvas tents, but then soon he buys used RVs, and it grows really quickly into hundreds of people.

But Alan is undeterred and he finds a way. So he leverages all his business connections and raises $20 million, and he decides to buy a piece of land just outside the city limits. So in 2015, Community First Village becomes a reality. He moves the first people in. At first, they're just living in canvas tents, but then soon he buys used RVs, and it grows really quickly into hundreds of people.

Alan believes that the main cause of chronic homelessness and what's at the root of it for a lot of people is a loss of family. And so this community is built in a way that kind of forces all of these close social connections. Most of the homes are tiny homes that don't have their own kitchens or bathrooms. Partly that's because they're cheaper and quicker and easier to build, but...

Alan believes that the main cause of chronic homelessness and what's at the root of it for a lot of people is a loss of family. And so this community is built in a way that kind of forces all of these close social connections. Most of the homes are tiny homes that don't have their own kitchens or bathrooms. Partly that's because they're cheaper and quicker and easier to build, but...

Allen also says that this type of housing is just better suited to people who've lived on the streets for a long time. Every resident gets their own standalone home, which makes it easier for them to have their own space and easier for Allen and the organizers to be a little more hands-off about what goes on in there.

Allen also says that this type of housing is just better suited to people who've lived on the streets for a long time. Every resident gets their own standalone home, which makes it easier for them to have their own space and easier for Allen and the organizers to be a little more hands-off about what goes on in there.