ICCF Community Homes Selected as a 2026 AARP Community Challenge Grantee!

ICCF Community Homes is honored to be selected as a recipient of a 2026 AARP Community Challenge grant, an investment that will help strengthen community and improve quality of life for older adults at Southgate Senior Living Apartments. This year, just 750 projects were selected from more than 5,100 applications submitted from across all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

“We are grateful for AARP’s investment in creating communities where people of all ages can thrive,” said Sophia Courtney, ICCF’s Resident Experience and Events Lead. “At ICCF Community Homes, we believe stable housing is just the beginning. Spaces that foster connection, belonging, and access to healthy food help residents build community and age with dignity. This project will expand opportunities for Southgate residents to gather, grow, and thrive together.”

Through this quick action grant, ICCF Community Homes has expanded the community garden at Southgate Senior Living Apartments, creating more opportunities for residents to access fresh food, spend time outdoors, and build meaningful connections with neighbors.

Southgate provides affordable housing for adults ages 62 and older, many of whom live on fixed incomes. Residents have consistently shared the importance of having accessible outdoor spaces that support both physical wellbeing and social connection.

Last summer, residents transformed an underutilized green space into a vibrant community garden featuring raised beds, accessible pathways, and gathering areas. The garden quickly became a hub of activity where neighbors connected, shared meals, and enjoyed the benefits of growing fresh produce together. As participation grew, residents identified a need for additional growing space and shaded areas that would make the garden more accessible and comfortable for everyone.

With support from AARP, the garden now includes three additional accessible raised garden beds, a 10 by 12-foot shade structure, and the supplies needed to support a successful growing season. These improvements make it easier for residents with mobility challenges to participate while creating a more welcoming space for gathering and recreation.

By investing in resident led improvements like these, ICCF Community Homes is helping create communities where older adults can remain healthy, connected, and engaged while aging in place. The expanded garden strengthens access to fresh food, reduces social isolation, and enhances a sense of belonging, advancing our vision of vibrant communities with connected neighbors, housing justice, and abundant opportunity.

About the AARP Community Challenge

The AARP Community Challenge grant program supports projects that improve public places, housing, transportation, digital connectivity, disaster resilience, and more. In 2026, Toyota Motor North America is funding pedestrian safety projects that aim to enhance streets and sidewalks nationwide. Microsoft is supporting digital connections projects aimed at expanding access to and adoption of high-speed internet (broadband).

These grants are part of AARP’s broader Livable Communities initiative, which helps neighborhoods, towns, cities, and counties across the country become great places for people of all ages. AARP believes communities should offer:

• Safe, walkable streets
• Affordable and accessible housing and transportation options
• Access to essential services
• Opportunities for residents to engage and participate fully in community life

Learn more about AARP’s nationwide Livable Communities work at AARP.org/Livable.