The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), through its Older Adults Home Modification Grant Program (CFDA 14.921), awarded a $1,247,225 Cooperative Agreement to the Western Piedmont Council of Governments (WPCOG), a non-profit regional planning and economic development organization.
The purpose of this award is to enable low-income elderly homeowners to remain in their homes through low-cost, high-impact home modifications that reduce fall risk, improve safety, increase accessibility, and enhance functional abilities. WPCOG, as the grant recipient, will deliver these home modification services to over 1,900 senior households in both urban and rural communities. The project focuses on the installation of items such as grab bars, railings, lever-handled doors, adaptive equipment, and other accessibility enhancements, with the guidance of licensed occupational therapists to ensure the modifications address each client's specific needs. This funding will enable older adults to "age in place" and avoid the need for nursing homes or other assisted living facilities.