Region IV Area Agency on Aging (AAA) will soon offer more support for low income older adults and people with disabilities in Southwest Michigan, thanks to a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD).
The $1 million grant through the Older Adult Home Modification Program (OAHMP) aims to address critical housing needs within underserved communities by providing home modification services on the primary residence of eligible, low-income senior renters and homeowners who are at least 62 years old.
“The program will improve residents’ quality of life by funding essential home modifications to reduce seniors’ risk of falling, improve general safety, increase accessibility, and to improve their functional abilities in their home, thereby promoting independent living within the community,” said Area Agency on Aging CEO Christine Vanlandingham.
Those eligible for the service include residents of Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties who meet age and income eligibility requirements and face mobility challenges or other physical limitations that hinder their ability to “age in place.”
“The Older Adult Home Modification Program utilizes a community-based approach to make homes safer, more accessible, and supportive of the residents’ health and independence,” Vanlandingham said. “This grant fits perfectly with AAA’s mission: Offering Choices for Independent Lives.”
AAA is partnering with the Home Modification Occupational Therapy Alliance, a national network of occupational therapists that specialize in home modification evaluations and design review, for the grant program.
AAA will announce a formal referral process for eligible residents soon.
