Every Wednesday night, John Vander Wagen and Leigh Coburn sat down for dinner. (It used to be Fridays.) Somewhere between the entrée and dessert, the idea for a cooperative rental community was born, and Homeward Bound Villages began.
We had the opportunity to sit down with each co-founder and hear, in their own words, how Homeward Bound Villages came to be. These two Michigan City Exchange Club friends spent a decade turning a big idea into six front doors (eventually 12 in total) on Karwick Road.
The Beginning
Leigh Coburn came to Michigan City in 1969 with Bethlehem Steel and later ran his own company. John spent his career running his own company that supported distribution for McDonald’s. A mutual friend introduced them at the Michigan City Exchange Club, and the friendship stuck.
When we asked each of them to tell us about the partnership, these two lines summed it up beautifully:
John: Leigh “was more of a hitter off the tee, and I was more of a guy that said, here’s how we’re going to get it organized.”
Leigh: “I can get some great ideas. It costs a lot of money.”
This sounds about right, if you know these two kind-hearted and incredibly talented individuals. As President Sandi Keller describes them as “like peanut butter and chocolate.” The two men’s skill sets complemented each other in a way that, even despite setbacks, Homeward Bound Villages has succeeded in bringing affordable co-operative living to La Porte County.
Before The Friendship
John’s story starts in an alley behind his dad’s coal yard in Chicago. Young John spotted a hole in the fence with coal spilling out and told his dad to fix it. His dad said no: people needed that coal to heat their homes in winter. “That’s how I really learned a little bit about charity,” John said.
Leigh also shared his starting point with brutal honesty. He used to cross to the other side of Franklin Street to avoid people experiencing homelessness. Then a friend invited him to coffee with two men from the overnight shelter in Michigan City. One had a master’s degree and had worked in college admissions. The other had run his own HR business. “I thought, you know, I’ve got the wrong attitude,” Leigh said.
Both men saw the need for kindness and understanding. They also saw that despite the best efforts of some, the situation of homelessness isn’t a personal fault, but a set of circumstances that can be almost impossible to escape without support.
The journey, in their own words
2013: John and Leigh decided to do something about homelessness in Michigan City. For them, step one included: a shopping cart parade down Franklin Street, complete with decorated carts, a judging panel, and hot dogs. This raised awareness and funds to support services for people experiencing homelessness.
2016: Homeward Bound was incorporated. Leigh shared that he borrowed the name from an old awareness walk that had long ceased and was held in Washington Park.
2017: “Our Nonprofit status came through “pretty quick,” in April,” said John.
The road trip: “Bev, you want to take a ride?” Leigh asked his wife. “Sure. Where?” “Austin, Texas.” At Community First! Village, he heard the line that shaped everything: it’s not the size of the house, it’s the community.
The hard years: Donated land fell through amid “not in my backyard” pushback. Yet the group persisted.
2019: Then the COVID-19 pandemic began; the group started paying first month’s rent with Keys to Hope, helping more than a dozen people into homes over the next few years.
2025: Phase 1 rises on Karwick Road. On Nov. 15, 2025, Leigh handed each of the six residents their keys.
Today: Six families, one co-op, and a mission realized to create community through affordable housing.
The day the keys changed hands- memories that will last a lifetime
Leigh recounted a poignant moment at last year’s ribbon cutting,
“At the ribbon cutting, one new resident asked if she could say a few words. She had a key, a home, and a job starting the next week. Then she offered to give up her place to a friend who might otherwise end up on the street. There wasn’t a dry eye anywhere.”
The resident recalled that all six residents had met to decide collectively who would take residency first at Karwick Village, as the last remaining units would be finishing final fixes such as painting and awaiting appliances. This resident, along with 3 others, offered to wait to allow those with the greatest need to move in first, with those who had agreed to wait following shortly thereafter.
This moment solidified for everyone there. The impact that affordable housing has on those who need it and just how great the need for stable, safe, and affordable housing is within our community.
Credit where it’s due
Both founders are quick to pass along the praise. John: “If it wasn’t for Sandra Keller, Homeward Bound Villages would never have occurred.” He also admits someone challenged her very hard along the way. “He’s sitting in this room,” he joked kindly, speaking of himself.
Leigh credits his board: “They’re all better than I am, but I don’t like to admit it,” he said with a small laugh and a humble smile.
Ten years, six doors and counting
There’s more to come: six more homes, a community center, and amenities the co-op will decide on, such as fruit trees or a community garden. Leigh is thinking big. He wants Homeward Bound Villages to be as well-known as Habitat for Humanity someday.
John gets the last word: “Everyone in our community deserves safe, affordable housing.” If you can, give. And whether or not you give, do what John asks: please share this story.
