Blair Racine is a bingo player and emcee at Tuesday karaoke night. With his white, wavy, chest-length beard, he could stand in for Santa at any Christmas party. Plus, “I’m Switzerland,” he told me — neutral but empathetic.
But in his most important role, Racine is the unofficial mayor of Community First! Village, where more than 400 formerly homeless people find safety and a sense of belonging in their colorful tiny homes and RVs east of Austin. He visits with everyone. He’s watched strangers, cold on arrival, thaw into warm neighbors.
“The biggest problem that people who are homeless have is low self-esteem,” said Racine, 71. He’d been there, too: a collapsed business, no family support and only a bed at the ARCH shelter downtown until he arrived in 2018 at Community First! Village, run by the nonprofit Mobile Loaves & Fishes…