We have been selected as a 2024 AARP Community Challenge Grantee!
Habitat for Humanity of Summit County is thrilled to announce we have been selected to receive a 2024 AARP Community Challenge grant. We are one of only 343 grantees selected (out of 3,300+ applications!) from across all 50 states, Washington D.C, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
This quick-action grant supports our 16 home development at Silver Maple Ridge where we are building our largest development of affordable housing in Summit County. 16 local families will purchase these homes providing generational wealth for their families. The awarded funds will help build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter.
Habitat’s Silver Maple Ridge housing community will develop blighted 3.5 acre piece of land to provide affordable housing to 16 families in the North Hill neighborhood. Included in this new housing community will be a new City of Akron Park, the first new park to be adopted by the city in more than 40 years. This development will be the single largest new housing project in the affiliate’s history and will draw families into the North Hill neighborhood and build community while also expanding the city’s residential tax base. From an economic standpoint, access to affordable housing drives economic impact and job growth in communities. One of the most important predictors of job creation in a community is access to affordable housing. Given Summit County’s standing as a qualified opportunity zone, increasing access to affordable homeownership through large scale new housing projects like Silver Maple Ridge plays a significant role in drawing the type of long term investment in neighborhoods needed to help them thrive.
“We are incredibly proud that AARP selected Habitat for Humanity of Summit County for this investment to make Summit County more livable for residents of all ages,” stated Rochelle Sibbio, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Summit County. “AARP is a nationwide leader in making communities more livable and we are honored that they see the tangible value this project will bring to our area.”
Rochelle continues saying, “Summit County Executive, Ilene Shapiro, expects senior citizens will account for 30% of Summit County’s population by 2030 indicating a rapidly increasing need for support for older homeowners who wish to remain in their homes. Beyond the affiliates Aging in Place program designed to help homeowners age in the homes safely, Habitat has also changed new home construction specifications to ensure the home will age with the homeowner and require less safety and accessibility modifications in the future. Some of these new specifications include single story designs, wheel chair turning radius, wheel chair width doorways, and blocking for future grab bar installation. Habitat for Humanity of Summit County is committed to the long-term housing needs of Summit County residents, including our rapidly aging population. The Silver Maple Ridge development will transform vacant land in the North Hill neighborhood into a multi-home development and community park that will draw families and neighbors into the neighborhood to support community revitalization.”
About the AARP Community Challenge
The AARP Community Challenge grant program funds innovative, quick-action projects that inspire change in areas such as public places; housing; transportation; digital connectivity; community resilience; and more. With additional funding support provided by Toyota Motor North America, the
program is also increasing its investment in pedestrian safety projects that will improve streets and sidewalks, create vibrant pedestrian infrastructure, engage community members and much more.
This is all part of AARP’s nationwide work on livable communities, which supports the efforts of neighborhoods, towns, cities and counties across the country to become great places for all. AARP believes that communities should provide safe, walkable streets; affordable and accessible housing and transportation options; access to needed services; and opportunities for residents to participate in community life.
To learn more about the projects being funded by the AARP Community Challenge across the nation, including all 343 granted projects this year, visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. You can also view an interactive map of current and past AARP Community Challenge projects and AARP’s Livable Communities work at aarp.org/livable.