Vision for the Village

It Started with a Vision

In the late 1990s, a group of local leaders gathered around a simple but powerful question: What would it take for every family in our community to have a safe, stable place to call home?

That conversation — known as Vision for the Village — sparked a movement. Faith leaders, city officials, and residents came together to face the growing housing crisis. Families were spending the majority of their income on rent. Many were financially forced to move frequently, making it hard for kids to succeed in school or for parents to find stable work.

From those early meetings, a clear idea emerged: the community needed an organization dedicated solely to developing affordable housing. By 2000, Outreach Development Corporation (ODC) was born — founded by John Berg and a circle of visionaries who believed housing was the foundation for opportunity. With $200,000 in seed funding and a mission to bring heart, will, and expertise to every project, ODC began its journey to preserve, acquire, and develop homes that families could afford.

Those first years were powered entirely by community spirit. Volunteers helped families become first-time homeowners. Partnerships grew with local faith communities and Interfaith Outreach, creating a model that combined affordable housing with supportive services — a combination that remains ODC’s hallmark today.

More than two decades later, that same spirit still drives ODC forward. The people who gathered for Vision for the Village didn’t just dream of housing. They built a legacy of hope that continues to shape lives and neighborhoods across the Twin Cities.