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Florida Dream Center (2021) Print
2021 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Housing
└ Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
└ Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
The Florida Dream Center helps older adults in Pinellas County age in place, relying on federal grants and other funding sources to assist with home repairs and modifications. However, this funding is typically limited, meaning the nonprofit can only improve homes belonging to residents over the age of 62. To serve a larger subset of older adults, the Florida Dream Center created a program for residents between the ages of 50 to 61. Modifications include installing grab bars and handrails, replacing flooring, fixing holes in exterior walls, painting, rewiring exterior lights and mitigating rodents and other pests. By tapping a wide volunteer network to help make repairs, the Center has since expanded the services it offers to older homeowners.
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See More Projects Like This One
Cleveland, OH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: This project provided free home-repair services to older adults in the Union-Miles neighborhood.
Grand Forks, ND
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: This project will match students with up with older residents. The students will help with chores such as yard cleanup, window washing and simple home repairs, while the older residents will mentor older students and advise them about paying bills, navigating relationships with landlords and other practical life skills.
Buffalo, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: To help low-income families rehabilitate their homes, Habitat for Humanity Buffalo held a series of construction skills trainings. Designed to reach people without a background in construction, the workshops focused on plumbing and electrical work. Project organizers say these education efforts ensure individuals are empowered to undertake critical home repairs. Additionally, the nonprofit wanted to help its volunteers understand the communities they serve. To do this, the organization hosted training sessions on topics related to diversity, equity and inclusion. Organizers report the sessions informed Home Team volunteers about the history of low-income communities and reinforced the importance of Habitat's mission to construct affordable housing.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Pinellas Park, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: HomeFit Modifications
Description: This project will install grab bars in the homes of residents age 50 or older. These residents have frequently used the local EMS response system and are considered at high risk of falling.
Clearwater, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Addressing community health
Description: This project will outfit a mobile soup kitchen with additional refrigeration units. This will increase storage space for donated food, which the organization provides to people facing food insecurity, particularly older adults and those transitioning from homelessness.
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