Nov. 6, 2018—Community First! Car Care opened in Austin, TX, and created a staff of formerly homeless technicians to fill the business, according to a report by KXAN. The business has employed eight staff members, all of whom live among the "tiny home development in east Travis County for the chronically homeless called Community First! Village," KXAN reports.
"When they were out on the streets—and all these guys were at one time on the streets—they did not receive that respect and they didn't have that dignity that they have working here," said the shop's director to KXAN, Larry Crawford.
The auto repair program is a partnership between Mobile Loaves and Fishes, which operates the village, and Charles Maund Toyota, KXAN reports. The business collaborated with the nonprofit to develop a concept, according to KXAN. Afterwards, the technicians were trained and tools were donated to the new car care center.
KXAN reports that the car care center joins several other small businesses operating in and out of Community First! Village, including a wood shop and a catering and concessions outfit.
The shop is open to the public three days a week on Tuesday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., KXAN reports.
