Project Neighbors’ History

Valparaiso Builders' Association (VBA) Forms

Walt Reiner, Project Neighbors' co-founder, brings together Valparaiso University faculty and community members to form the Valparaiso Builders Association (VBA). The VBA partners with Black families to break Valparaiso’s racial housing barrier, including the Cotton family, who become the city's first Black residents.

The Cotton Family House

VBA Builds and Deeds Houses to More Families

Seven more families relocate to Valparaiso with the VBA’s help. The VBA builds and rehabs houses for the families and gives them the deeds. The city's racial housing barrier is slowly but surely eroding.

Project Neighbors' Co-Founder, Walt Reiner

Inspiring Storytelling

MacDowell Fellow John Gehm publishes Bringing It Home, a creative nonfiction book inspired by these families' experiences moving from inner city Chicago to Valparaiso in partnership with the VBA. 

Project Neighbors Becomes Official

The VBA evolves into
Project Neighbors, a 501(c)(3) that builds and renovates homes to address systemic housing inequality. Project Neighbors continues the VBA's work of providing underserved families with housing through purchasing and rehabbing homes with church partners.

Project Neighbors Co-Founders, Walt and Lois Reiner

Project Neighbors Creates Hilltop Neighborhood House

In an effort to meet these families' needs beyond housing, Project Neighbors creates Hilltop Neighborhood House, a daycare center providing subsidized childcare. Hilltop Neighborhood House has since flourished into its own 501(c)(3) and provides early childhood education, runs a food pantry, and operates a soup kitchen in addition to its foundational day care offerings.

Project Neighbors Creates Hilltop Community Health Center (Later to Become HealthLinc)

In extended efforts to meet families' needs beyond housing, Project Neighbors creates Hilltop Community Health Center to offer healthcare to low-income and uninsured families. Hilltop Community Health Center eventually blossoms into its own organization known today as HealthLinc. HealthLinc is a federally qualified health center providing comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services to underserved communities, serving over 49,000 patients annually across multiple locations in Indiana.

Project Neighbors Creates WVLP 103.1 FM

Project Neighbors creates WVLP 103.1 FM to empower local news and stories to be told through community radio. WVLP 103.1 FM still operates today, featuring local shows that cover a variety of topics such as regional news, politics, music, pop culture, and more.

Project Neighbors Helps Found Neighbors Educational Opportunities (NEO)

In response to residents' need for adult education opportunities, Project Neighbors helps found Neighbors’ Educational Opportunities (NEO), expanding access to education for adult learners. Today, NEO is its own 501(c)3). It provides accessible, high-quality education and workforce training, empowering individuals of all ages to achieve their academic and career goals.

Project Neighbors Builds Neighbors Place

Project Neighbors builds Neighbors Place, an 18-unit studio apartment building for single women. Although Project Neighbors had begun to build properties instead of renovating existing structures back in the 90's, they had primarily built single-family homes and duplexes. Neighbors Place became the first apartment building in Project Neighbors' portfolio, paving the way for more projects that maximize impact, such as:

• 2017 – Caroline's Place
  • 15 units for single women in partnership with Housing Opportunities (now known as CoAction)
  • Built by Project Neighbors, managed by Housing Opportunities
• 2019 – Respite House II
  • 22-bed halfway house for folks recovering from substance abuse
  • Built by Project Neighbors, managed by Respite House, Inc.
• 2025 – 24-unit studio apartment building 
  • In progress
  • This project will be built and managed by Project Neighbors, just like Neighbors Place.

Neighbor's Place (Fun Fact: Project Neighbors' office is on the basement level of this building, so we get to see residents every day!)

Staying True to the Mission

Since the beginning, Project Neighbors has built/renovated over 100 homes in Valparaiso, utilizing over 100,000 hours of volunteers and providing stable, safe housing to hundreds of low-income residents. 

Today, Project Neighbors' mission to strengthen the Valparaiso community by addressing issues of race, class, and poverty is accomplished by:

• Building and managing affordable housing for low-income families and underserved communities
• Offering equitable wealth-building support for the Black community through the Freedom Recovery Fund
• Connecting residents to comprehensive support and resources through our community partners

Donate to help us maximize our impact: zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/projectneighbors

Follow us on social media: linktr.ee/ProjectNeighbors

Sign up for our biweekly newsletter: mailchi.mp/projectneighbors/newsletter

Sign up to volunteer: mailchi.mp/projectneighbors/volunteer