Journalism Story Script- Community First

ANCHOR INTRO: Theres a new development being constructed in Travis County

that hopes to keep Austins homeless off the street. Its been in the works for 10years and is finally one step closer to reality. Bella Tommey has the story.
(B-ROLL OF DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE COMMUNITY- CLIPS OF FAN TURNING,
WIND CHIMER, VOLUNTEERS WORKING, AND THE CONSTRUCTION TRUCK
MOVING.)
TOMMEY VO: Community First a 27- acre field on Hog Eye Road will be turning
into a self-sufficient community for Austins disabled and chronically homeless, like
Ellis.
ELLIS: Well Ive been on the street for 6 and a half years and met Alan Grahams
(founder) downtown and from then it turned out good. (0:29-0:34) (0:05)
TOMMEY VO: Ellis is one of the 250 people who will soon have a roof over their
head that they can call home.
B-ROLL of community
LINDA BURCH, SECRETARY AT ML&F: We can provide some place for the homeless
to actually settle and live and get off the streets. And so the idea of Community first
was developed. (0:58-1:08) (0:8)
TOMMEY VO: Mobile Loaves and Fishes, a national non-profit organization have
funded the $11 million project through donations alone (B- ROLL OF ML&F TRUCK)
and after 10 years of planning have finally been able to begin construction with the
help of local volunteers (B-ROLL OF VOLUNTEERS/ TREE FALLING AND
VOLUNTEERS LAUGHING)
JENNIFER GRAHAM, VOLUNTEER: Mobile Loaves and Fishes is one of our
philanthropic organizations and we did it and loved it so much that we kept coming
out. (00:15-00:20) (:05)
(B-Roll of volunteers cooking and doing various jobs [clear what the work entails]
and background chat)
JENNIFER GRAHAM, VOLUNTEER: Its just a wonderful place to come out and
volunteer on a Saturday morning. (00:28-00:32) (:04)
TOMMEY VO: The community will include a garden, on-site medical center, place of
worship, outdoor theater and Wi-Fi. It is also walking distance to public

transportation. A small urban farm will not only provide food but will pay the
people living here. (B-Roll clips of all of these features)
BURCH: (B-ROLL OF CHICKENS AND ANIMALS) They are raising rabbits here for
meat, they are raising chickens for eggs and goats for milk. (0:00-0:08) (:08)
B-ROLL OF PEOPLE WORKING ON THE LAND.
BURCH: The gardens function to serve people that are currently homeless. Ellis is
in charge of the fruit trees. (0:40-0:46) (:06)
ELLIS: Hopefully soon we will start having mangos, oranges and avocados here
too. (LAUGHING) (00:28-00:34) (:07)
STAND UP TOMMEY: As of this month, there are currently 1,500 homeless people
living in Austins homeless shelters. Community first will house around 225 of these
individuals from the Austin area who are admitted to the project after a yearlong
waitlist. (Visuals on screen for numbers)
BURCH: We will have paid spaces for everything including the tents, the
microhomes and the RVs for 225 to 227 sites. (0:02-0:13) (0:11)
TOMMEY VO: The housing options range from a cottage for $90 a month (B-Roll of
cottage) to a mobile home for $375 a month. (B-Roll of the larger mobile home)
(B-ROLL OF CENTER AGAIN)
TOMMEY VO: But some local residents are worried about the new housing project.
KATE MCCARLEY, LOCAL RESIDENT: I think its a safety hazard, I just dont think
its safe. (1:24-1:30) (:06)
TOMMEY VO: The non-profit is trying to put those at ease by doing background
checks on those living in the homeless village.
B ROLL OF VOLUNTEERS INCL. ELLIS CHOPPING TREE YELLING TIMBER! (1:361:44) (0:8)
TOMMEY VO: Community First plans to open its doors to those like Ellis just in time
for Christmas. Bella Tommey, reporting.