Lucy Tompkins
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
There's no sobriety requirement. They know that people will be using substances here, and for the most part, just let that be. Their concern is less with kind of individual actions and more with how it affects the broader community. If drug use or alcohol use is starting to disturb neighbors or if someone's selling drugs in the community, that's all cause for some kind of punishment.
There's no sobriety requirement. They know that people will be using substances here, and for the most part, just let that be. Their concern is less with kind of individual actions and more with how it affects the broader community. If drug use or alcohol use is starting to disturb neighbors or if someone's selling drugs in the community, that's all cause for some kind of punishment.
But otherwise, it's pretty hands-off.
But otherwise, it's pretty hands-off.
I don't know how often people are reprimanded, but there are fines that they charge for breaking little rules. People do have to leave. Sometimes people do get kicked out of the community. This year so far, they've evicted 22 people.
I don't know how often people are reprimanded, but there are fines that they charge for breaking little rules. People do have to leave. Sometimes people do get kicked out of the community. This year so far, they've evicted 22 people.
Mm-hmm. But most people do stay and live in the community for years. Some stay the rest of their lives. And these rules and this culture that they sort of maintain have made it possible to grow this community in the way that Alan dreamed.
Mm-hmm. But most people do stay and live in the community for years. Some stay the rest of their lives. And these rules and this culture that they sort of maintain have made it possible to grow this community in the way that Alan dreamed.
It is, and the city of Austin thinks so and is depending on them now to be a big part of their homelessness system. The federal government has also bought into the project, and now they're in the middle of a huge expansion, a $225 million expansion.
It is, and the city of Austin thinks so and is depending on them now to be a big part of their homelessness system. The federal government has also bought into the project, and now they're in the middle of a huge expansion, a $225 million expansion.
They have two new pieces of land, and they're planning to grow to house 2,000 people, which is about half the chronically homeless population in Austin right now. But in spending time here and seeing what success looks like for the residents of Community First, I think it also requires sort of a shift in what that means for the people who live in this community.
They have two new pieces of land, and they're planning to grow to house 2,000 people, which is about half the chronically homeless population in Austin right now. But in spending time here and seeing what success looks like for the residents of Community First, I think it also requires sort of a shift in what that means for the people who live in this community.
Success for them is a much more complicated and messy story.
Success for them is a much more complicated and messy story.
And we really saw that in hanging out with this one guy.
And we really saw that in hanging out with this one guy.
So I was interested in meeting with Justin because he was relatively new at Community First. He'd only been there about nine months when I first met with him. Well, maybe let's go back and you can tell me a little bit about where you're from and... Where you grew up.
So I was interested in meeting with Justin because he was relatively new at Community First. He'd only been there about nine months when I first met with him. Well, maybe let's go back and you can tell me a little bit about where you're from and... Where you grew up.