2024 AARP Community Challenge Demonstration Grant Recipients

2024 AARP Community Challenge Demonstration Grant Recipients


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This grant opportunity supports projects that encourage the replication of promising efforts that benefit residents — especially those age 50 and older. Applications were accepted in the


following categories:

Enhancing digital connectivity to prepare and respond to disasters for residents (especially those age 50-plus), the importance of which is discussed in the AARP


Disaster Resilience Tool Kit.Facilitating equitable engagement to reconnect communities that have been divided by infrastructure (with a focus on people age 50-plus), as highlighted in


AARP's award-winning "Before the Highway," article series.Implementing housing choice design competitions that increase community understanding of the benefits of a variety of housing


options — especially for people age 50-plus — and encourage implementation of policies that enable greater choice in housing, including accessory dwelling units (see the free AARP guide The


ABCs of ADUs), missing middle housing (see AARP's Discovering and Developing Missing Middle Housing), tiny homes and other housing solutions.  


If a grantee has a website or online presence, its name appears in blue and is hyperlinked.

Grants in support of Housing Choice projects


ALASKA

Anchorage: Cook Inlet Housing AuthorityThis project will hold a design competition where teams will test recent local zoning reform efforts. Each team will create feasible designs


for missing middle housing, including accessible units for people age 50 and older. The competition will also communicate the benefits of multi-generational housing.


CALIFORNIA

Fresno: U.S. Green Building Council Central CaliforniaThis design competition will invite professionals and students to explore adaptive reuse options for an existing empty


office space. The contestants will explore how to reuse empty commercial spaces to combat the housing crisis. More 2024 ListsCapacity-Building MicrograntsAARP Community Challenge Grantees


DON'T MISS: Scroll down to watch a video about the Demonstration Grants opportunity


MONTANA

Whitefish: Shelter WFThis project will launch a design competition for multifamily and cottage cluster housing, with a focus on accessibility for older adults. The goal is to


encourage zoning reforms that allow for a broader spectrum of housing options.


NEBRASKA

Omaha: Omaha by DesignThis design competition will invite participants to create designs for duplexes, which can provide an affordable and accessible housing option. One main


goal of the event is to overcome negative public perceptions of duplexes


NEW HAMPSHIRE

Southwest New Hampshire: Southwest Region Planning CommissionThis project, led by a regional commission representing 33 municipalities, will launch an accessory dwelling


unit design competition focused on older adults’ housing needs. 


OHIO

Cleveland Heights: City of Cleveland HeightsThe city will hold a design competition to highlight the benefits of accessory dwelling units, particularly for older adults. Residents


will be able to access plans for the winning designs for free, making constructing an ADU in the community easier.


PENNSYLVANIA

Philadelphia: Community Design Collaborative of PhiladelphiaThis project will develop tiny houses and accessory dwelling unit prototypes, with a focus on designs that are


cost-efficient, meet regulatory requirements and can be easily reproduced. Community workshops will engage people facing housing instability and older adults hoping to age in place.


SOUTH CAROLINA

Anderson: Anderson Housing and Homeless AllianceA series of charrettes will engage older adults and people with disabilities to design safe, accessible cottage housing.


Designs will support aging in place, reflect new zoning guidelines and prioritize residents’ access to parks for service dogs.


TEXAS

Lewisville: City of LewisvilleThe city will host a design competition to encourage construction of accessory dwelling units and increase age-friendly and affordable housing options.


The project will include outreach efforts in English and Spanish, as well as Hakha Chin for migrants from Myanmar.


WISCONSIN

La Crosse: City of La CrosseThis project will launch an accessory dwelling unit design competition to promote affordable residential development, with a focus on older adults’


housing needs. Winning designs will serve as models for ADU construction, expediting the approval process for homeowners. Grants in support of Reconnecting Communities


ALASKA