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2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Housing
└ Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
└ Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
Park County's housing shortage left older adults and low-income workers struggling to age in place or stay near family. The project offered free tours of seven accessory dwelling units and a three-part workshop for 38 homeowners, most age 50-plus, covering financing, design and construction. These sessions broke down barriers and highlighted accessibility features. Participants left empowered to start projects, and the Coalition expects more ADUs to expand housing options and family stability. One attendee said that the program gave her a pathway into retirement.
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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Chicago, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
Description: This project set out to increase awareness of accessory dwelling units -- small housing units constructed on a property alongside a preexisting single family home. The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus held its proposes a Granny Flat Academy, a series of educational workshops for Chicagoland residents, elected officials and municipal staff. The workshops highlighted best practices for amending ordinances to allow ADU construction and how to educate residents about the benefits of ADUs. Organizers say ADUs support lifelong communities, allowing people to age in place in their neighborhoods in an accessible, affordable setting.
Milwaukee, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
Description: Milwaukee faced limited housing options, with most land zoned for single-family homes, restricting affordability and accessibility for older adults. Through the Growing MKE initiative, the city expanded outreach to engage residents in shaping zoning updates. The project held pop-ups at local centers for older adults, libraries and community events, plus public meetings and surveys. It reached over 1,000 people, including hundreds age 50-plus. Feedback highlighted strong support for housing diversity, accessory dwelling units and walkable neighborhoods. This engagement built understanding of housing needs and laid the foundation for zoning changes that will enable more affordable, accessible homes for residents.
Green River, UT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2019
Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
Description: Epicenter conducted outreach to older residents about their housing needs, with the goal informing the design of its Frontier House prototype. Costing 36,000, Epicanter envisions the small home as an affordable alternative to mobile homes, where many rural residents live. The 708-square-foot home -- scaled to the minimum house size allowed by City code -- prioritizes accessibility. Designed to be low maintenance, the house is meant to enable residents to age in place in their community. Epicenter plans to monitor the structure for three years to track its utility usage and durability. The nonprofit also uses the prototype as a teaching tool within the community. The nonprofit works to close the housing affordability gap for low-to-moderate income households in rural Utah through home repair and new housing construction.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Bozeman, MT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2017
Project Category: Roadway/sidewalks/crosswalk improvement
Description: The City of Bozeman partnered with the Western Transportation Institute to create a pop-up trailer, which they lend to community groups who want to test out street concepts and advocate for permanent changes. The toolkit contains materials for temporary demonstrations, such as straw wattles, planter boxes, pavement paint and tires. These are useful for creating curb extensions and pedestrian islands -- features that calm traffic by narrowing lanes and increasing the visibility of cyclists and pedestrians. The City deployed the kit at the intersection of Tamarack and North Tracy, where residents often complain about speeding. Located near a park, senior center and the county fairgrounds, the intersection is popular with pedestrians and cyclists. When the City polled passersby about the interventions, two-thirds of the feedback they heard was positive. The City also set up radar speed detection equipment, which showed slower vehicle speeds during pop-up project.
Bozeman, MT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: This project will create accessible trails near the hospital and 55+ housing communities, promoting physical activity for all. It aims to improve poorly maintained trails and provide a year-round, inclusive trail network.
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