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SquareOne Villages (2017) Print
2017 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Housing
└ Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
└ Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
SquareOne Villages constructed two ADA-compliant tiny houses at Emerald Village Eugene, a permanently affordable tiny home co-op. The 1.1 acre location features 22 tiny houses, ranging in size from 160- to 288-square-feet. Each contains a kitchenette, bathroom and sleeping and living areas. Private donations and in-kind contributions by local architects, builders and others funded the project, with future residents contributed their labor during construction. As a result, construction costs came to around 55,000 per unit, including the price of the land. The monthly cost to residents ranges from 200 to 300 and covers utilities, maintenance, operating costs and common spaces. As members of a housing cooperative, the residents own shares in the village, enabling each to receive some money if they choose to move out. To promote diverse housing options, organization also hosted two workshops on accessory dwellings unit in Eugene.
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Dallas, TX
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
Description: The community faced a severe housing gap, leaving older homeowners and college students with few affordable options. To address this, Operation Tiny House hosted seminars and design workshops to teach older adults about accessory dwelling units as a way to age in place and generate income. Participants, including older adults and students, collaborated on life-sized ADU prototypes and creative renderings, fostering intergenerational engagement. The project sparked enthusiasm for ADUs as a solution for affordability and independence while strengthening social ties. "It was inspiring to see older adults and students working side by side," organizers said, underscoring the shared purpose.
Medford, OR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
Description: Medford faced a shortage of accessible, affordable housing as most new units were detached single-family homes despite Oregon's middle housing law. To change this, the city produced permit-ready plans for duplexes, triplexes and fourplexes with accessible features, coordinated with LifeLong Housing standards. Designed for single-family lots in walkable neighborhoods, these plans cut costs and simplify permitting. They aim to expand housing choices for older adults to age in place and foster multi-generational living, while also prompting conversations about state code updates to ease future development.
Terrytown, LA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Accessory dwelling units, tiny homes and manufactured housing
Description: Older adults in the New Orleans metro area face high poverty rates and housing vulnerability, worsened by severe storms and rising insurance costs. To address this, Habitat built a model home showcasing climate-resilient design and universal accessibility features. It then hosted seven open houses for over 100 attendees, including prospective buyers and stakeholders. The model sparked investment and accelerated plans for Rising Oaks, a 150-unit development with cottages for older adults featuring microgrid power and flood-resistant construction. Attendees praised the accessibility and safety features, setting a new standard for affordable, resilient housing.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Eugene, OR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Digital Connectivity for Disasters
Description: Frequent power outages in Eugene left older adults without reliable communication during emergencies, creating safety risks and isolation. The council installed two permanent emergency Wi-Fi hubs and a mobile unit, distributed 50 solar or rechargeable power packs and educated residents on using these resources. These improvements strengthened disaster preparedness and digital connectivity, ensuring access to vital information and contact with loved ones. Residents reported feeling safer and more connected, with plans to replicate the program citywide. One participant said, "We can send messages and let our children know how we are doing."
Veneta, OR
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Public space activation
Description: During the COVID-19 pandemic, staff at the Fern Ridge Public Library were determined to offer a safe outdoor space for residents to congregate. When a large, centuries-old Heritage Oak tree fell on library grounds, they took the opportunity to construct a courtyard, enlisting local artists to create benches from the tree's wood. To make the space inviting, volunteers planted native Oregonian plants and laid down gravel to create an accessible pathway. What had been a weed-covered yard became a peaceful seating area for casual meetings, quiet reading and public performances.
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