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City of Fort Collins (2024) Print
2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Housing
└ Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
└ Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Residents of mobile home parks, many age 50-plus and on fixed incomes, face costly repairs and safety risks from issues like frozen pipes and poor air quality. The city hosted four hands-on workshops teaching plumbing basics and power tool use, distributed DIY toolkits and offered Spanish interpretation. Participants learned to clear clogs, replace toilet flappers and safely use tools, with microgrants available for repairs. Surveys show 89 residents gained confidence to tackle maintenance and even help neighbors. "Just having the knowledge, tools and support of neighbors... is giving participants the confidence to tackle home repairs they had been putting off," one organizer noted.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Bluffton, SC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Low-income homeowners often face critical safety repairs they cannot afford, risking displacement and loss of equity. This project exceeded its goal by completing 40 home repairs for families. It was led by residents age 50-plus, making entryways safe and replacing outdated systems. The improvements allowed families to remain in their homes and preserve generational wealth. One homeowner saw her summer power bill drop from over $700 to less than $200 after an HVAC replacement, showing the impact on safety and affordability.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Coffeyville, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: By repairing neglected front porches, Coffeyville's Reawakening Neighborhood Initiative set out to demonstrate that small improvements can be a catalyst for community rejuvenation. The organization's Porchology project finished four East Side homes with safety railings, step handrails and new porch swings. They also replaced rotted wood and added decorative plants and birdhouses. Project organizers held a contest to select dwellings for upgrades, with each winner located in Coffeyville's older neighborhood. The Porchology project encourages community members to envision porches as outdoor extensions of homes. Following upgrades to the four selected homes, neighbors have fixed up their own porches, improving curb appeal. In the future, the organization plans to recognize homeowners who have invested in their porches and stage porch parties with music and entertainment.
Fort Collins, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Older adults in mobile home parks faced mounting repair needs that threatened safety and housing stability. The city organized DIY workshops where residents learned to fix leaks, replace furnace filters and improve insulation. Experts provided toolkits and guidance to support the workshops. These sessions boosted confidence and reduced costs, while feedback led to a mini-grant program for roof and skirting repairs. One participant shared, "I fixed my leaky flapper... I never thought I could do something like that," reflecting how the project empowered residents to maintain their homes and avoid costly problems.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Fort Collins, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Older adults in mobile home parks faced mounting repair needs that threatened safety and housing stability. The city organized DIY workshops where residents learned to fix leaks, replace furnace filters and improve insulation. Experts provided toolkits and guidance to support the workshops. These sessions boosted confidence and reduced costs, while feedback led to a mini-grant program for roof and skirting repairs. One participant shared, "I fixed my leaky flapper... I never thought I could do something like that," reflecting how the project empowered residents to maintain their homes and avoid costly problems.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Fort Collins, CO
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance repair and services
Description: Residents in mobile home parks and apartments often faced small plumbing problems that could quickly threaten home safety and strain fixed incomes. Many older adults lacked practical guidance or affordable tools, making it harder to age in place. The City of Fort Collins responded by hosting hands-on plumbing and water conservation workshops and larger resource fairs where residents practiced clearing clogs, checking for leaks and using shutoff valves alongside experts. Participants received take-home supplies and connected with city staff and service providers for follow-up help. Many reported feeling confident enough to fix problems they had delayed for months, and some completed repairs within days. Feedback also revealed gaps in emergency shutoff access, which prompted the city to plan new plumbing assistance. The project strengthened residents ability to stay safe, reduce costs and support one another at home.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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