There are many different types of affordable housing solutions and communities. Innovative solutions are constantly being explored to create sustainable, supportive, and empowering living environments. At Karwick Village, we’re excited to introduce the first cooperative community model in La Porte County, a proven approach that transforms how residents interact with their housing and each other.
What Is a Cooperative Community?
A cooperative community is a housing model where residents actively participate in decision-making processes that affect their living environment. Unlike traditional rental arrangements where tenants have little say in community matters, cooperative communities, like Karwick Village, empower residents to hold decision-making power over their surroundings.
This model isn’t just about housing—it’s about creating a sustainable ecosystem where people support one another, share resources, and work together toward common goals. This model creates strong support networks for residents and even stronger communities for those who live there.
The History and Success of Cooperative Communities
It’s important to understand that the cooperative community model isn’t new or experimental. During our research, we discovered compelling evidence that communities across the United States that adopted this cooperative structure consistently outperformed their counterparts in the affordable housing space.
These communities demonstrated:
- Lower turnover rates
- Better property maintenance
- Stronger social bonds
- Higher resident satisfaction
- More effective conflict resolution
The success of this model lies in its ability to transform the relationship between residents and their housing from a transactional one to a relationship built on investment, pride, and mutual support.
What a Cooperative Community IS:
- The residents are the Karwick Village Cooperative Board
- A community where residents have a meaningful voice
- A structure that maintains affordability forever through our community land trust structure of ownership, Homeward Bound Villages retains ownership of both the rental units and the land to ensure our units remain forever affordable.
- A model that builds community support systems and resilience
- A system that empowers residents to develop leadership skills and actively shape their living environment
What a Cooperative Community IS NOT:
- Not a typical landlord-tenant relationship where decisions come from the top down
- Not a short-term solution that could revert to market-rate housing
- Not an isolated housing community disconnected from the broader community
- Not a model where residents are passive. We highly encourage our community members to take an active role in the community at Karwick Village.
- Not owned by individual residents (units remain part of our community land trust structure of ownership by Homeward Bound Villages.)
How Our Cooperative Community Will Work
The heart of our cooperative community is the community co-op board. This democratic body will be responsible for making decisions that affect the community as a whole.
Year 1: Foundation Building During our first year, the board will consist of dedicated community volunteers who will:
- Establish the board’s structure and processes
- Create transparent decision-making frameworks
- Demonstrate effective community governance
- Mentor residents in board and committee operations
- Begin involving residents in community decisions
Year 2 and Beyond: Community Ownership In the second year, residents will take ownership of the board, filling the seats and directing their community’s future. This transition represents the full realization of our cooperative vision.
Through this structure, residents will:
- Work together to address community needs
- Develop creative solutions to shared challenges and opportunities
- Build meaningful relationships with neighbors
- Cultivate a sense of ownership and pride
- Create traditions and community culture
Why This Matters for LaPorte County
We are proud to be the first organization to bring this innovative and proven approach to La Porte County. We’re not just providing affordable housing by implementing the cooperative community model. We’re creating a framework for community empowerment that can transform how residents experience their homes and neighborhoods.
Research consistently shows that when people feel a sense of ownership and agency in their living environment, they invest more deeply in maintaining and improving that environment. This investment creates a positive cycle that benefits everyone involved.
Join Us in Building a New Kind of Community
Whether you’re a potential resident, a community supporter, or simply interested in innovative housing solutions, we invite you to learn more about our cooperative community model and how it’s creating new possibilities for affordable housing in La Porte County at Karwick Village.
