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St. Luke's Home (2023) Print
2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Housing
└ Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
└ Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
The project addressed a critical shortage of safe, affordable assisted living for low-income older adults in Tucson. Volunteers made renovations to 19 units, adding new flooring, paint and bathroom fixtures to improve accessibility and comfort. These upgrades created a more sustainable living environment and lifted residents' spirits. One resident shared that she now can wake up in the morning with a smile on her face, underscoring the impact of these improvements on daily life.
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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Elgin, IL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Older homeowners in Elgin faced unsafe conditions they could not afford to fix, threatening their ability to age in place. Through its Aging in Place program, Habitat completed 16 projects including the addition of ramps, grab bars and railings. It also converted tubs to showers and performed HVAC repairs. These changes eased daily living and reduced stress for residents. One homeowner said, "Thank you so much for the air conditioning replacement. With my COPD it was extremely difficult to breathe." Another called a new walk-in shower "a lifesaver." The upgrades allow older adults to remain safely housed and maintain independence.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Durham, NC
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Like many places, Durham is experiencing an affordable housing crisis, with many longtime residents displaced from their neighborhoods. To help residents remain in their homes, Durham Habitat for Humanity expanded its Repairs Program services for low-income, older and disabled residents. The organization purchased a second-hand work truck, which helps work crews perform repairs and home maintenance tasks. Since the purchased, Habitat's teams improved homes in a year, representing a 50 percent increase from the year before. The improvements address unsafe living conditions and make homes more accessible for residents of all ages and abilities. Organizers say providing cost-effective repairs preserves affordable housing and curbs gentrification.
Kenosha, WI
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Unsafe homes left many older adults vulnerable to falls and insecurity, with broken steps, missing handrails and doors that wouldn't lock. The program completed safety repairs for seven homes at no cost, installing indoor and outdoor handrails, adding grab bars and replacing kitchen fixtures. Volunteers handled all labor, strengthening community ties. These changes let homeowners remain independent and secure, delaying moves to assisted living. One participant said new doors finally let her lock up and feel safe after years of fear, showing how essential these repairs were for dignity and peace of mind.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Tucson, AZ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Engaging residents in vibrant public places
Description: Older adults in Tucson face isolation and unsafe streets in a car-centric city. To counter this, the project turned .75 miles of Amphi neighborhood roads into a lively corridor for biking, walking and cultural exchange. The event featured a resource fair with health screenings and housing support, plus a holiday market showcasing refugee artisans. About 750 residents attended, nearly half age 50-plus, and older adults served as volunteers and ambassadors. Organizers created a Cyclovita Toolkit and multilingual outreach materials so neighborhoods can replicate the model. A local health institution pledged support for future events. One participant noted that his family can now easily visit the area, and his children and grandchildren can play safely.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Tucson, AZ
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2020
Project Category: Activities that address social isolation and facilitate community connections
Description: The Southern Arizona Arts Culture Alliance spearheaded a community-wide care package campaign, which provided hospital patients and residents of assisted living communities with creative experiences. The packages included DIY bookmarks and journaling kits, CDs with recordings of local musicians, coloring pages designed by local artists, greeting cards and jewelry making and craft activities. The organization created the packages in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which put a pause to onsite arts and crafts activities. The Alliance delivered more than 1,000 packages to individuals receiving care at the partnering communities.
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