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Union Miles Development Corporation (2022) Print
2022 AARP Community Challenge Grantee
Project Category
Housing
└ Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
└ Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
In Cleveland's Union-Miles neighborhood, decades of disinvestment left many older adults in unsafe homes. Union Miles Development Corporation provided free repairs, such as painting, replacing windows and installing grab bars, to help residents age in place. Volunteers assisted with the work, restoring safety and comfort. "Now that the leak has been repaired... my grandchildren will be coming over to stay for Christmas break," said one resident, showing how the project renewed security and family connection.
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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Westford, MA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Habitat for Humanity's Critical Home Repair helps lower-income older adults and veterans remain in their homes by helping with basic repairs and maintenance tasks. This project provided tools for the initiative. The tools allow Habitat to make accessibility upgrades to homes throughout Lowell -- such as adding wheelchair ramps -- as well as expand the number of homes the organization can repair and build.
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.
Dubuque, IA
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Many older adults in Dubuque faced hazards that made aging in place unsafe, while local youth lacked pathways to stable employment. The program tackled both issues by completing 21 home modifications, such as tub-to-shower conversions, grab bars and improved lighting for income-qualifying older adults. Students received paid, hands-on training and hosted a older adults' luncheon to build intergenerational connections. These upgrades improved safety and independence for older residents and gave youth valuable job skills. Positive feedback and new city funding will help sustain and expand this work, strengthening community ties.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Nearby AARP Community Challenge Projects
Cleveland, OH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2023
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Older residents in Cleveland's Union-Miles neighborhood faced unsafe homes and mounting code violations they could not afford to fix. The program delivered free repairs, from electrical and plumbing fixes to stair and drywall work, plus safety upgrades like handrails and grab bars. Volunteers supported outreach and repairs, helping older adults remain safely in their homes. These improvements not only prevented costly violations but also preserved housing assets for future generations and strengthened neighborhood stability.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Cleveland, OH
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2018
Project Category: Community Gardens
Description: The Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority saw an opportunity to revitalize an abandoned volleyball court behind one of their public housing buildings, creating a space to bring residents together and address social isolation. Using input from the residents of Riverview Tower, an apartment building for low-income older adults, they created a garden where residents can grow their own fruits and vegetables. The garden has places to sit and features accessibility features for residents with mobility challenges. Additionally, the space includes sensory areas, which allow visitors to smell, touch and taste herbs, fruits and berries.
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