It’s hard to believe that we are approaching the 1-year anniversary of our ribbon-cutting on November 15th, but we are, and what an incredible first year it has been at Karwick Village. Today we look back on the past year and share what this milestone means to us.
Welcome Home: 1 Year Ago
It seemed as if even Mother Nature was excited to see our Karwick Village residents receive their keys last November at our ribbon-cutting ceremony, as we enjoyed an unusually warm November afternoon, just the week before we’d received several inches of snow. Yet on the day of our event, the sun shone brightly, as if in support of the event. Community stakeholders, elected officials, Homeward Bound Villages board members, and the larger community all gathered together to welcome the first six families home to Karwick Village. The keys handed out that day represented a promise; today, they represent a home and a community.
Stability: What a Year in One Place Makes Possible
For the residents of Karwick Village, this past year has meant many things, but one of the biggest is stability. Life changes in positive ways when home is steady: routines, work, school, health appointments, having somewhere to receive mail. The six families at Karwick Village haven’t had to worry about rising rents, substandard living conditions, or many of the other issues that plague affordable housing. Home at Karwick Village means stability.
While our residents have many different stories and lived experiences that brought them to our community, one common thread connected them: the need for stable, safe, affordable housing. Earlier this summer, we talked about a housing-first approach for those in need, and we showed how when one is provided with stable housing, life changes in positive ways that improve the lives of those being housed and the greater community. You can read more about the Housing First series here. Stable housing, like the housing found at Karwick Village, changes lives.
The Beginning of the Karwick Village Co-Op:
Karwick Village runs as a cooperative, and it is the first of its kind in LaPorte County. This structure is one way Homeward Bound Villages keeps housing units forever affordable. All residents are cooperative members and work together to run the day-to-day operations of Karwick Village. This includes groundskeeping, selection of new residents, and paying bills such as trash and snow plowing.
With support from Homeward Bound Villages, Karwick Village Co-op is making progress toward becoming fully resident-led. This empowerment brings responsibility and also a great sense of ownership to residents.
A First Summer At Karwick Village:
The summer before last, Karwick Village was a series of framed-out structures as crews hammered away on what would become six homes. This summer, six families enjoyed the parcel’s natural beauty and the community they’d built together through the Karwick Village Cooperative. Children played outside, neighbors sat on porches, and flower pots held plants that took root, much like the community at Karwick Village.
This summer also saw our Karwick Village Co-op truly take off. Residents held regular meetings, worked with our co-op consultant, and welcomed volunteers in the late summer and fall. This summer also showed the need for our Community Center. As community members gathered regularly, they acknowledged that a place to meet was critical to the co-op’s success. That is why fundraising for the Community Center is so important for Karwick Village and Homeward Bound. We hope to see construction begin in early 2027
What We’ve Learned One Year On
The community at Karwick Village is flourishing, our co-op is up and running, and the residents have had almost a full year to call this special place home. We’ve learned a lot in this first year, as have our residents. One of the biggest things we’ve learned is just how much the broader community has continued to support Karwick Village through volunteering, partnership, donations, and grants. People are genuinely interested in growing co-operative communities and affordable housing.
Looking Ahead
The Community Center is our focus to kick off Phase 2 of Karwick Village construction. Not only will this shared space provide a place for co-op meetings, but it is also a place where our community can come together to share a meal, host a game night, learn a craft or skill, and simply find community. In addition, our Community Center will host laundry facilities, a much-needed utility for residents living at Karwick Village who currently have to take their laundry off-site to be cleaned.
After our Community Center is built, we have six remaining units to be built at Karwick Village, bringing our total to 12 households that will be able to call this special place home. From there, our co-op will be fully formed and operational, giving Karwick Village residents ownership-like decision-making abilities while renting at Karwick Village. And our next project will be on the horizon!
If you’d like to learn more about volunteering at Karwick Village or you’d like to give to support the building of the Community Center, please click the buttons below.
