When we first dreamed of bringing affordable housing to La Porte County back in 2017, it seemed like a distant goal. Today, we’re thrilled to announce that our vision is on the brink of becoming a reality. Let’s take a moment to reflect on our journey and celebrate how far we’ve come.
The Early Days
In 2017, Homeward Bound Villages recognized a critical need in our community: affordable housing that provides not just shelter, but a foundation for growth, stability, and community connection. We registered as an official 501c3 charity and got to work. From the beginning, we knew that we’d need to think outside of the box to bring affordable housing to La Porte County that not just housed residents but empowered them and supported opportunities for growth.
Milestones Along the Way
We researched across the country to find communities built for the affordable housing crisis, and we knew that a cooperative-style community would offer housing security and a built-in support network for lower-income residents. For years, we planned, researched, welcomed community input, searched for property to build our first village, worked on zoning, and fundraised to make this dream a reality.
Today, we are excited to share two recent developments that have propelled us even closer to making affordable housing in La Porte County a reality. The Health Foundation of La Porte (HFL) Grant: We’re immensely grateful for the support of HFL. Their generous grant has been a game-changer, providing us with the resources to move forward confidently. In the summer of 2024, we received a substantial grant to build and fund Phase I of Karwick Village. We could not be more grateful for this support, as we are now able to focus on fundraising for Phase II and…. imminent Site Work!
After years of preparation, we’re thrilled to announce that site work is about to begin! We’re in the final stages of selecting a local contractor, and soon, the hum of machinery will signal the start of our building process.
We want to thank all of the local contractors who reached out and have bid for the work at Karwick Village- you are playing a key part in bringing affordable housing to La Porte County!
With site work imminent, we’re closer than ever to breaking ground on the actual construction of Karwick Village. Our goal is ambitious but achievable: to welcome residents into our first units before the end of the year.
The Road Ahead
While we’ve come far, there’s still work to be done. That’s where you come in. We’ve launched our Community Builder campaign this week to ensure we can address unexpected challenges and continue our mission beyond this initial project.
As we stand on the cusp of turning our dream into reality, we invite you to be part of this historic moment. Whether you’ve been with us since 2017 or are just learning about our mission, there’s a place for you in this story.
Become a Community Builder Donor today and help us write the next chapter in La Porte County’s affordable housing story. Together, we’re not just building homes—we’re building a brighter, more inclusive future for our entire community.