Oregon AARP Community Challenge Grantees for 2020

Communities across Oregon are working each and every day to become more livable for residents of all ages. In support of that work, AARP is excited to announce the largest number of grantees and funds to-date through the Community Challenge grant program. These “quick action” grants are being distributed to 184 organizations across all 50 states, Washington D.C, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Community Challenge funds innovative projects that inspire change in areas such as transportation, public spaces, housing, smart cities, civic engagement, coronavirus response and more.

AARP Oregon is incredibly proud to have three grantees right here in our state. Our goal is to support their efforts to create great places for people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities and the coronavirus pandemic has only underscored the importance of this work.

Here in Oregon, these exciting and diverse projects were funded:

Asian Health and Service Center
This grant provides urgently needed support for older adults currently facing language and cultural barriers that increase isolation and loneliness by expanding and continuing the work of a successful Response Team that provides culturally specific resources for mental health, food security, and more.

Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Metro HomeShare Program
To ensure that Oregonians can continue to be reached and assisted during the global coronavirus pandemic, new digital and remote outreach will be developed to maintain services for low-income homeowners or renters.

Milton-Freewater Downtown AllianceThis grant will install a gathering place and activity plaza where people of all ages can play and engage with each other while keeping a safe distance.

The Community Challenge is 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 residents. We believe 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 work being funded by the AARP Community Challenge both here in Oregon as well as across the nation, visit aarp.org/CommunityChallenge. You can also view an interactive map of all of the Community Challenge projects and AARP Oregon’s livable communities work at aarp.org/livable.