See More Projects Like This One

Sandoval, NM

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: HomeFit Modifications

Description: Rebuilding Together targeted home safety hazards that keep older adults from feeling secure at home. Crews improved safety in 10 homes by installing packages with smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers. Residents reported greater confidence and now know how to ask for future health and safety repairs. One rural resident living on a fixed income said new alarms and an extinguisher eased fears about delayed emergency response. They organization will seek funding to continue free repairs, including critical systems and mobility upgrades such as ramps.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Richmond, VA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: HomeFit Modifications

Description: Many affordable homes lacked accessibility features, making aging in place difficult for older adults and people with disabilities. To address this, Livability Initiative implemented 57 modifications across five homes. It also trained staff using the AARP HomeFit Guide. Laminated checklists and digital tools were provided to standardize assessments and ensure replicable processes. These changes improved safety and usability while raising awareness of accessible housing. One volunteer said, "Hearing that there are so many low-cost solutions, I'm inspired to make changes to my own home and implement these simple ideas."

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Randolph, MA

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024

Project Category: HomeFit Modifications

Description: Older adults in affordable housing often lacked tools and knowledge to make their homes safe, leaving them vulnerable to accidents and isolation. The project offered workshops on home safety and technology, installed video doorbell cameras and worked with maintenance teams to ensure compliance with housing rules. Residents reported feeling safer and more independent. One mother said the video doorbell gave her peace of mind and allowed her autistic daughter to stay home alone briefly, reducing stress and improving daily life.

Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.

Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects

Gary, IN

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025

Project Category: Expansion and enhancement of transportation options

Description: This project will enhance accessibility by installing a bus shelter, speed bumps, solar-powered crosswalks, striped crosswalks, and a bike lane. These improvements will connect senior apartments to a local park and trail.

Gary, IN

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018

Project Category: Public space activation

Description: Residents of Genesis Towers -- an affordable housing complex for older adults -- often congregated in a vacant lot in Gary's downtown. This project set out to activate the lot into an accessible gathering space. Local students worked to gather input from residents about their hopes for the new park, and the City held design workshops. Plans for the space featured ADA-accessible walkways, seating, picnic tables and raised garden beds. Organizers also worked to provide free Wi-Fi access in the space, as well as a bike repair station. Organizers say the park is designed to host free or low-cost events -- part of the overarching goal of combatting social isolation through innovative public spaces.

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