AARP Hearing Center
AARP Livable Communities Map
See More Projects Like This One
Los Angeles, CA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: ADUs, tiny homes, missing middle and manufactured housing
Description: ELACC saw that many longtime homeowners needed clear guidance to understand ADU options and how added income could help them stay stable as they age. Some faced confusing rules about unpermitted work and worries about risky finance products. The team held dedicated ADU workshops, then blended a shorter ADU 101 into monthly homebuyer sessions to reach more residents already seeking housing help. They educated about 45 households on ADU rules, financing and long term benefits and offered HUD-certified counseling that produced tailored action plans. Participants gained practical steps to pursue ADUs, reduce foreclosure risk and support aging in place. A counseling case involving code violations showed how targeted advice can guide safer, legal improvements. The project set the stage for continued workshops and counseling that will help more homeowners move from learning to taking action.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Omaha, NE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: ADUs, tiny homes, missing middle and manufactured housing
Description: Partners for Livable Omaha responded to a shortage of practical, aging-ready housing that made it hard for older adults to stay in their communities. The team advanced a small-house system designed to be accessible, buildable and useful for emerging developers. They hosted a design exhibition, launched a public catalog and website, began construction on two small houses and trained dozens of architecture students and interns who helped expand the design library. The effort prompted builders and developers to explore energy-efficient designs that ease daily living. One student said they gained "meaningful skills development... and better understand how projects move from concept to construction," reflecting how the project strengthened the future workforce.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Burlington, VT
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: ADUs, tiny homes, missing middle and manufactured housing
Description: The department will engage older adults to review and improve age‑friendly home designs for the 802 Homes Catalog. Feedback will help refine housing layouts that support aging in place, safety and long‑term affordability.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Lihue, HI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Housing Design Competitions
Description: High housing costs in Lihue left older adults and families struggling for affordable options. Better Block Hawaii hosted a design competition for climate-resilient, age-friendly accessory dwelling units, engaging residents through workshops and a review committee. Eight submissions were received, and winning designs were published in a free booklet to guide future builds. "This is a home I can imagine living in," said one attendee at the community open house. The project raised awareness of ADUs as a practical solution for housing and supplemental income and sparked interest in similar efforts across Hawaii.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Lihue, HI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Park enhancements
Description: Kauai Senior Citizens Softball Association addressed safety risks at shared county ballparks where worn surfaces, damaged fencing and aging facilities put older adult players at risk. With the limited public resources prioritized elsewhere, volunteer teams stepped in to make the fields safer. The association coordinated repairs at three parks, painting dugouts and scorer booths, fixing fencing and improving infield surfaces at home plate and bases. Materials were secured for permanent safety upgrades that support regular play. The work reduced tripping hazards and improved field conditions for older adult leagues while strengthening collaboration with youth associations that also use the parks. These partnerships set the stage for continued upkeep and safer shared use across seasons, helping players stay active and engaged in a setting that depends on safe, playable fields.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
LEARN MORE AND STAY INFORMED
Find articles and resources about making communities more livable for people of all ages
Download or order free publications from AARP Livable Communities
Sign up for the free, weekly, award-winning AARP Livable Communities eNewsletter
Don't see your community listed?
LEARN HOW IT CAN JOIN THE NETWORKConnect with your AARP State Office
AARP has offices in all 50 states as well as in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
AARP Hawaii State Office
1132 Bishop Street
Suite 1920
Honolulu, HI 96813
United States