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Pinellas County, FL
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2021
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: The Florida Dream Center helps older adults in Pinellas County age in place, relying on federal grants and other funding sources to assist with home repairs and modifications. However, this funding is typically limited, meaning the nonprofit can only improve homes belonging to residents over the age of 62. To serve a larger subset of older adults, the Florida Dream Center created a program for residents between the ages of 50 to 61. Modifications include installing grab bars and handrails, replacing flooring, fixing holes in exterior walls, painting, rewiring exterior lights and mitigating rodents and other pests. By tapping a wide volunteer network to help make repairs, the Center has since expanded the services it offers to older homeowners.
Lincoln, NE
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2026
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Home safety upgrades will be provided to low-income older adults through an existing weatherization program. Improvements like grab bars, better lighting and non-slip surfaces will help reduce fall risks and support safe aging at home.
Roseville, MN
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2022
Project Category: Innovative home maintenance, repair and support services
Description: Older adult homeowners in Minnesota faced rising costs and physical limits that left homes unsafe and at risk of abandonment amid a statewide shortage of affordable housing. Hearts & Hammers restored 76 houses for low-income residents age 50-plus, adding repairs like painting, weatherproofing and accessibility upgrades with help from 64 volunteers. The work preserved naturally affordable homes and reduced displacement. "With the combination of costs and physical labor, we just couldn't get things done," said one couple, adding that when the project was complete, it looked absolutely perfect.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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Winfield, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2025
Project Category: Improved wayfinding
Description: People crossing a busy main street faced safety risks due to low visibility and unclear right-of-way. That uncertainty made everyday trips stressful, especially for older adults who prefer predictable crossings. The City of Winfield installed user-activated rapid flashing beacons at key locations, pairing bright lights with marked crosswalks so drivers see people sooner and yield more consistently. The upgrades create clearer, more comfortable crossings and reduce conflict between vehicles and pedestrians. Early results include stronger driver attention and higher confidence among people walking. "Since the installation, we have seen a noticeable shift in how drivers approach our crosswalks," said the city manager. The success has already prompted plans to expand similar treatments at additional sites, reinforcing a longer-term shift toward safer walking conditions for residents who rely on these crossings.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
Mulvane, KS
AARP Community Challenge Grant Year: 2024
Project Category: Walk Audits
Description: Poor sidewalks and crossings near local adult centers and the downtown area made walking unsafe for older adults in Mulvane. To address this, the foundation led walk audits, community meetings and mentorship sessions to identify hazards and propose solutions. Findings will inform the city's 10-year comprehensive plan and support grant applications for ADA upgrades and safer intersections. One volunteer called the experience eye-opening, saying she learned how audit data can drive funding and policy changes.
Project description was created using generative AI and then reviewed for accuracy.
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