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Hearts & Hammers (2022) Print
2022 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Housing
└ Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
└ Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Older adult homeowners in Minnesota faced rising costs and physical limits that left homes unsafe and at risk of abandonment amid a statewide shortage of affordable housing. Hearts & Hammers restored 76 houses for low-income residents age 50-plus, adding repairs like painting, weatherproofing and accessibility upgrades with help from 64 volunteers. The work preserved naturally affordable homes and reduced displacement. "With the combination of costs and physical labor, we just couldn't get things done," said one couple, adding that when the project was complete, it looked absolutely perfect.
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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See More Projects Like This One
Tucson, AZ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: The project addressed a critical shortage of safe, affordable assisted living for low-income older adults in Tucson. Volunteers made renovations to 19 units, adding new flooring, paint and bathroom fixtures to improve accessibility and comfort. These upgrades created a more sustainable living environment and lifted residents' spirits. One resident shared that she now can wake up in the morning with a smile on her face, underscoring the impact of these improvements on daily life.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Detroit, MI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Detroit's aging residents often face unsafe homes and limited resources for repairs. Road to Freedom stepped in to fix porches, plumbing, doors and windows at no cost, while engaging volunteers to assist. The effort improved safety and comfort for older adults and built partnerships with local centers to ensure ongoing support. "I am so happy and excited about the work performed in my home," wrote one participant, underscoring the value of these repairs.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Kenosha, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Unsafe homes left many older adults vulnerable to falls and insecurity, with broken steps, missing handrails and doors that wouldn't lock. The program completed safety repairs for seven homes at no cost, installing indoor and outdoor handrails, adding grab bars and replacing kitchen fixtures. Volunteers handled all labor, strengthening community ties. These changes let homeowners remain independent and secure, delaying moves to assisted living. One participant said new doors finally let her lock up and feel safe after years of fear, showing how essential these repairs were for dignity and peace of mind.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Saint Paul, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: Territorial Road in St. Paul is a busy arterial, with dozens of heavy trucks passing through every hour. High vehicle speeds pose a hazard for residents, many of whom are older adults and people with disabilities. This project set out to improve safety and beautify two intersections near the local light rail station. To do this, the St. Anthony Community Council installed artistic benches with planters, as well as a wall mural depicting an owl. Additionally, a local artist painted a Dakota-inspired design on a crosswalk, making it more visible to passing drivers.
St. Paul, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Reconnecting Communities
Description: The construction of I-94 shattered St. Paul's Rondo neighborhood, displacing families and erasing community life. To preserve this history and amplify older residents' voices, the project interviewed 13 older adults and collected photos to create a virtual reality experience showing Rondo before, during and after freeway construction. Two VR exhibitions engaged residents and youth, fostering dialogue and promoting healing. These immersive stories now serve as a permanent archive, informing redevelopment discussions and promoting more inclusive urban planning for years to come.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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