Coalition for Home Repair Awarded $1M for Older Adult Home Modification Program
Coalition for Home Repair Awarded $1M for Older Adult Home Modification Program
Jonesborough, Tennessee - The Coalition for Home Repair was awarded $1,000,000 by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the Older Adult Home Modification Program (OAHMP).
The award coincides with HUD announcing nearly $70 million in grants across the country that will help transform communities by fixing older housing, preserving affordable housing, and improving the health of children and families in these communities, including twenty-six OAHMP grantees.
The $1,000,000 award will fund home modifications for at least 150 low-income homeowners or renters, age 62 or older, who reside in Eastern Kentucky. Two Coalition members, Frontier Housing (Morehead, KY) and Housing Development Alliance (Hazard, KY), will be subrecipients. Housing Development Alliance and Frontier Housing will implement the OAHMP program among the 11 counties they serve, including Breathitt, Knott, Letcher, and Perry, four of the hardest-hit counties during the July 2022 Eastern Kentucky Flood.
Subrecipients will engage a Licensed Occupational Therapist to conduct in-home assessments and develop a repair/modification plan to reduce in-home falls and increase the quality of life. Adopting a holistic approach, the subrecipents will ensure the home repair/modification addresses specific needs and promotes full participation in daily life activities.
The program demonstrates a shift towards collaborative services for older adults. In February, the Administration for Community Living released the final rule to update the Older Americans Act (OAA) program regulations — the first substantial update since 1988. OAA is the landmark law that created the nationwide network of Area Agencies on Aging, which are involved in home modifications and repairs, either providing those services directly or making those referrals out. The final rule clarifies requirements for state and area plans on aging, ensuring coordination between programs that serve all older adults.
“This grant will bring powerful repair and modification funding to Eastern Kentucky,” shared Freyja Harris, the Coalition for Home Repair executive director. “We look forward to successfully implementing the OAHMP grant with our subrecipients and ensuring low-income households access safer housing. Securing this grant is a win for the Coalition, our membership, and building foundations to secure future funding.”
The Coalition for Home Repair will manage the grant award and provide training, guidance, and advocacy for subrecipients. The Coalition has a strong history of professional development and support to its members around helping older adults age in place. Notable events include an aging-in-place cohort, which funded 60+ Certified Aging in Place Specialist certifications, ReFrame Conference, and webinars such as Funds for Aging in Place Modifications.
The Coalition for Home Repair is inviting home repair nonprofits, municipal staff, and other stakeholders who are passionate about reducing fall hazards in homes to join an upcoming webinar for free. Code COALITIONFREE can be used to register at https://www.coalitionforhomerepair.org/events/
About the Coalition for Home Repair
The Coalition for Home Repair promotes the preservation of safe, healthy, affordable housing for all by supporting the work of home repair and rehabilitation partners nationwide. We provide funding, advocacy, and educational resources to ensure this preservation. Since its founding in 2013, Coalition members have completed over 125,000 home repair projects at nearly 60,000 homes in 38 states, improving the quality of life for about 160,000 people.
###
