Minneapolis, MN

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

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

Description: Minneapolis faces a housing affordability crisis, leaving older adults and others with few options. Mill City Church launched IMBY to showcase accessory dwelling units as a solution, hosting two demonstration events, furnishing a model unit for immersive experiences and producing a short documentary. The effort raised awareness and mobilized advocates to consider ADUs for housing diversity. "We didn't really think about our backyard in terms of being a potential solution... but now we're considering building an ADU and being a part of the solution," said one participant.

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

Pensacola, FL

AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022

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

Description: Pensacola's housing shortage left older adults facing eviction or living in vehicles. To address this, the Council installed two tiny homes for older adults in crisis and partnered with carpentry students and Habitat volunteers for stairs, shelving and painting. Open houses and media coverage showcased tiny homes as a viable solution, sparking public and official support for future projects. One resident said, "The mobile home that I was living in, the walls fell out... My case worker called and said, 'I have you a house.' And God answered my prayers."

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