This significant grant was made possible through the generosity of Members Advantage Credit Union through the Community Multiplier program, supported by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis’ Member Match program. These matching funds amplify Member Advantage’s support for affordable housing in the community.
“These funds contribute to our fundraising for Karwick Village’s Phase 2 project, building the Karwick Village Community Center, a vital resource for those who call this community home. In addition to helping us work towards Phase 2 construction, this grant also funds capacity building for Homeward Bound Villages as an organization so that we may maintain structured, mindful growth that allows us to continue our mission of creating community through affordable housing,” Sandi Keller, Homeward Bound Villages’ President, said about the grant.
Karwick Village welcomed its first six families in early December 2025. Homeward Bound Villages will build Karwick Village in Phases. The first phase included six units at Karwick Village, including one ADA-accessible unit. Phase 2 prioritizes the Community Center, a shared space for Karwick Village residents.
The proposed center addresses needs that go beyond housing itself. On-site laundry facilities are intended to spare residents the added cost and inconvenience of laundromat trips. A shared kitchen and gathering area will offer room for meals and everyday connection. Meeting space will give residents a place to take part in the cooperative decisions that affect their homes and neighbors. Together, these resources are designed to make affordable housing more than a collection of buildings: a community where people can put down roots and feel they belong.
Another six units will be built at Karwick Village to complete the construction portion of the project. While Homeward Bound Villages retains ownership of the land and buildings at Karwick Village, residents manage day-to-day life through the Karwick Village Co-op, a resident-led rental cooperative model new to the region.
“As a credit union rooted in Michigan City, giving back to the community that supports us is at the core of everything we do. For a family, having a stable home matters. So does having a neighbor to turn to and a place where you feel included,” said Frank Beachnau, president and CEO of Members Advantage Credit Union. “That is what makes this project meaningful. The Community Center will help families share everyday resources and build relationships right where they live. We are proud to help bring that vision closer to reality.”
The Community Multiplier Member match is a grant program that is exclusively available through participating member financial institutions of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (FHLBI). The program matches FHLBI grants up to $60,000 with a minimum 25% commitment from the member financial institution to support certain priority affordable housing initiatives in Indiana and Michigan.