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Henderson, NV
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Housing Design Competitions
Description: A housing design challenge will create mixed-use, transit-oriented concepts for city land. The ideas will show how age-friendly homes support aging in place, walkability, transit access and community connection.
Woodstock, VA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Housing Design Competitions
Description: Shenandoah County faced a shortage of smaller accessible homes that would let older adults stay near family and services. The county launched a design competition to create pre-approved ADU plans and used public outreach to explain why flexible housing matters, especially for residents who want to age in place but struggle with large or costly homes. The project sparked discussions among towns about zoning updates that could expand housing choices. A homeowner with worsening mobility shared that the competition gave her hope she could remain in the home she loves. The effort built momentum for long term improvements and informed communitywide planning.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Jackson, TN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Housing Design Competitions
Description: The City of Jackson launched an ADU design competition to make it easier for homeowners to create accessible housing that supports aging in place. Rising costs and limited options left many older adults without practical ways to stay in their communities, so the city sought designs that removed common barriers. The competition produced three winning ADU plans with features such as no-step entrances, roll-in showers, wide doorways and lever-style handles. These will become free, pre-approved building plans to help residents save time and reduce costs. Community interest is already strong, and the city expects the plans to increase affordable housing and help more people remain safely at home. Nearby communities have shown interest in replicating the model, and Jackson will next finalize the plans with its Planning Commission and publish them online for public use.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Albany, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
Description: Rural New York faces a growing population of those age 50-plus along with limited housing options. Yet, many communities lack ADU ordinances and awareness of state funding. To address this, the coalition hosted two webinars for planners and housing groups on ADU benefits and mailed AARP's ADU guide to county offices. It also posted sample ordinances online to help communities act. The effort aims to spur adoption of ADUs for multigenerational living and aging in place. "We are hopeful that... more communities adopt local ordinances that permit ADUs," said the organization, which plans to expand outreach at its next annual conference.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Colonie, NY
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Housing stability
Description: This project will help construct 16 on-bedroom apartments in a supportive housing community for older adults experiencing homelessness. The Center will also host a series of health literacy, wellness and aging-in-place workshops for residents.
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