Gridmates and Energy Sponsors Salute Community First Village
CLEAResult, Itron, LCRA, Silicon Labs help power first six months!
Austin, Texas, April 8, 2016 -- The bread is being served at “the little village that could,” a visionary, affordable, sustainable housing community for the disabled and chronically homeless in Central Texas.
Last Saturday, Mobile Loaves & Fishes premiered its innovative Community First! Village that started as a master plan to house 250+ homeless people in Central Texas; and as with most things in Texas, the vision got bigger.
Community First! Village showcased its housing solutions for the homeless and also the unique offerings that make it more than just a place to live…an important ecosystem of support for sustenance, including:
· Walking trails, memorial garden, places for worship, study and fellowship
· Community garden for fruits and vegetables; chicken operation, beehive production
· Workshop with tool bank and art gallery for micro-enterprise opportunities
· Medical facility for physical and mental health screenings and support services
· Outdoor theater and bed and breakfast for mission visits
“With these amenities, Community First! Village is more than a neighborhood; it is a haven for people who have been suffering from living conditions many of us cannot even imagine,” said Alan Graham, CEO, Mobile Loaves & Fishes. “We offer dignity, empowerment, relationship and community. We offer a way home…to Grace, Mercy and Goodness.”
The first 63 residents have power for six months for day-to-day
necessities to light, cool and heat, cook meals, wash clothes and take warm
showers. All of the 180-square-foot homes have covered porches, a wonderful way
to meet and greet neighbors.
RVs and micro-homes throughout Community First! Village are powered in part by Gridmates collaborative energy donations from:
· 300 individuals from six countries:
o Australia, USA, UK, Greece, Netherlands, Switzerland
· 4 Corporate Sponsors
o Itron
o LCRA
"It is heartwarming to provide help to those who cannot afford to pay for their energy needs and help keep the lights on in our communities" said Dr. George Koutitas, CEO and Co-founder at Gridmates.
WATCH VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tlAfY-V6D0&feature=youtu.be
It takes a village to build a village and Alan Graham has been fighting homelessness in Austin one tiny house at a time
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