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Habitat for Humanity of Durham Inc. (2018) Print
2018 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Housing
└ Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
└ Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Like many places, Durham is experiencing an affordable housing crisis, with many longtime residents displaced from their neighborhoods. To help residents remain in their homes, Durham Habitat for Humanity expanded its Repairs Program services for low-income, older and disabled residents. The organization purchased a second-hand work truck, which helps work crews perform repairs and home maintenance tasks. Since the purchased, Habitat's teams improved homes in a year, representing a 50 percent increase from the year before. The improvements address unsafe living conditions and make homes more accessible for residents of all ages and abilities. Organizers say providing cost-effective repairs preserves affordable housing and curbs gentrification.
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See More Projects Like This One
Takoma Park, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Professional home assessments will be added to an existing program to guide repair and accessibility upgrades for older adults. Clear recommendations will help volunteers and contractors complete practical updates to support aging in place.
Salisbury, MD
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Home safety updates, such as grab bars, improved lighting and minor repairs, will be provided for adults age 50-plus in the community. These changes will help residents age in place and reduce the risk of falls at home.
Charlotte, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Through home visits, the nonprofit will conduct safety checks and install simple features such as lighting, grab bars and other accessibility fixes. These updates will reduce household hazards and help older adults stay safely in their homes.
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Durham, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Pedestrian Safety
Description: Bike Durham addressed a longstanding safety challenge on a downtown corridor where older adults and other residents faced fast traffic and limited protection while walking or biking. The Move-A-Bull City Open Streets event closed the route to cars and showed people what safer design looks like, including protected intersections and shorter crossings. Seven themed zones offered wellness activities, demonstrations and places to safely try new ways of moving through the city. The event prompted stronger support for traffic calming and protected lanes and helped residents imagine permanent improvements. Many left wanting more frequent Open Streets days, showing how powerful the experience felt.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Chapel Hill, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: HomeFit Modifications
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