New York, NY

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing

Description: Long Island's housing shortage leaves older adults struggling to stay near family. Regional Plan Association produced videos showing how accessory dwelling units (ADUs) can help, featuring residents who rely on ADUs to age in place or support loved ones. The stories, shared with housing advocates, fueled a statewide coalition and informed proposals like the New York Housing Compact. "We've enjoyed living in an ADU at our daughter's house... but now face incredible uncertainty," said one couple, underscoring the urgency for flexible housing options.

Evanston, IL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020

Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing

Description: To help mitigate housing affordability challenges, the City of Evanston created a digital guide for homeowners looking to build accessory dwelling units to their property. Written in partnership with the Evanston Development Cooperative, the guide covers zoning, financing, design and construction, as well as information about who typically lives in ADUs. Additionally, the City hosted a webinar on ADU construction, which it recorded and posted on its website. In fall 2020, the City updated its ADU ordinance to give homeowners more flexibility, allowing them to create separate housing units either attached to or within their existing homes. Project organizers say the guidebook has helped spread the word about the update. ADU construction in Evanston has increased since the guidebook's publication and City has worked to make model ADU blueprints available to residents.

Moro, OR

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing

Description: With few housing options, older adults in Moro struggled to downsize or live near family. The city responded by creating two permit-ready ADU designs with accessibility features, shaped by public input and offered free at City Hall. The plans, shared with neighboring Condon, cut design costs and made construction easier. The project sparked enthusiasm for ADUs, a housing type newly allowed in 2022, and is expected to lead to the first builds soon. "It has been wonderful to see members of both city councils... getting excited about ADUs," one participant said.