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Mobile Loaves and Fishes announced yesterday that its Community First! Village for people exiting homelessness has partnered with Mark Odom Studio on the design of a new collection of micro homes. The architecture firm has designed six different models of homes that are 144 to 200 square feet in size, and all have porches. The 700 homes are part of phases three and four of the village, which will begin building out infrastructure this year in preparation for habitation in 2025. According to a press release from the group, the Mark Odom Studio homes are part of a site design concept called Neighborhoods of Knowingness, which is a “cluster of homes centered around a communal area and shared community buildings, such as outdoor kitchens or laundry/restroom/shower facilities, so that neighbors can connect and socialize regularly in a shared area of the neighborhood.” Currently, Community First! is home to more than 350 formerly homeless residents with plans to expand to 1,900 homes across 178 acres.

Rendering by Mark Odom Studio

Elizabeth Pagano is the editor of the Austin Monitor.