REACH has been selected as a 2023 AARP Community Challenge Grantee!

REACH Community Development is thrilled to announce we have been selected to receive a 2023 AARP Community Challenge grant to support REACH’s Community Builders Program. We are one of only 310 grantees selected (out of 3,600+ applications!) from across all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“AARP Oregon is committed to working with local leaders to improve residents’ quality of life through tangible changes,” said Bandana Shrestha, AARP Oregon State Director. “We are proud to collaborate with this year’s grantees as they make immediate improvements in their communities to jumpstart long-term change, especially for Oregonians 50 and over.”

REACH’s Community Builders Program is a free, bilingual home repair program dedicated to providing aging-in-place modifications and critical fire, life, and safety repairs for vulnerable community members. REACH serves approximately 200 households annually, engaging volunteers, donated materials, and contracted labor.

With this quick-action grant REACH will support lower-income adults 50-plus who are in need of larger, critical repairs that fall outside the scope of our funding resources for this program.

“We are incredibly proud that AARP selected REACH for this investment to promote housing retention and accessibility, supporting residents of all ages to remain safe and stably housed,” stated Dan Valliere, REACH CEO. “AARP is a nationwide leader in making communities more livable, and we are honored that they see the tangible value REACH’s Community Builders Program brings to our area.”

About the Community Challenge
The AARP Community Challenge grant program funds innovative, quick-action projects that inspire change in areas such as public places; housing; transportation; diversity, equity, and inclusion; digital connections; community resilience; and more. With additional funding support from Toyota Motor North America, the program is also increasing its investment in projects that improve mobility innovation and transportation options.

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 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 310 granted projects this year, visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. You can also view an interactive map of all Community Challenge projects and AARP’s Livable Communities work at aarp.org/livable.