Brother Andrew Dinegar (St. Alexius); Bethany Bear, Steven Hebbard, Alan Graham (Community First!), Mike Purcell (MTM), Susan Chill (St. Alexius), Kimmy Randolph (MTM), Barry Kidwell (MTM), and Zach Kidwell.
A local group with representatives from Mustard Tree Ministries and St. Alexius visited Austin, Texas to study the Community First! Village being built there to help address that city’s homeless population. Community First! Village is a $12 million, 27-acre master-planned community which provides affordable housing and community for the disabled, chronically homeless.
The local group spent two days visiting with Community First! founder Alan Graham and staff members as well as volunteering on the property itself.
“We want to gain the necessary community support and then replicate the Community First! model here in Chattanooga to provide affordable housing and community for our disabled, chronically homeless population,” said Reverend Barry Kidwell, director of Mustard Tree Ministries. “By going to Austin, we were able to see first-hand how they are blending volunteerism, community gardening, micro-enterprises, and a variety of affordable micro-housing solutions to provide a supportive and loving community.”
Mustard Tree Ministries is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which serves the urban poor and homeless in Chattanooga. For more information about Mustard Tree Ministries and their efforts to provide Community for Chattanooga’s disabled chronic homeless, contact Mr. Kidwell by email at cbarrykidwell@gmail.com or by phone at 414-1698.