Bridge Across Georgia

Helping Seniors Stay Safely at Home

Series 1 of 4

Connecting Communities. Sharing Resources.

Growing older shouldn't mean facing life's challenges alone.

Across Athens, organizations are working every day to help older adults remain safe, independent, and comfortable in the homes they love. Whether it's home repairs, accessibility modifications, weatherization, housing preservation, or connecting seniors with trusted community services, these programs are helping older adults age in place with dignity.

In the first installment of our Bridge Across Georgia series, we're highlighting organizations that help seniors remain safely at home. Whether you're planning ahead for yourself or helping care for a loved one, we hope this guide serves as a helpful place to begin.

Featured Organization

Athens Community Council on Aging (ACCA)

The Athens Community Council on Aging (ACCA) has served older adults throughout Northeast Georgia for more than 50 years and provides a broad network of programs designed to help older adults remain healthy, independent, and connected.

In addition to well-known services such as Meals on Wheels, caregiver support, Adult Day Health, Medicare counseling, and senior employment assistance, ACCA's Live Well Housing Program has provided housing counseling, aging-in-place modifications, minor home repairs, and larger home rehabilitation projects for qualifying homeowners.

Official Website: Athens Community Council on Aging

Home Repair & Accessibility Resources

Athens Area Habitat for Humanity

Athens Area Habitat for Humanity helps qualifying low-income Clarke County homeowners preserve their homes through Brush with Kindness, which addresses essential home repairs, and the Accessibility Improvement Modification (AIM) program for qualifying homeowners with physical disabilities who need ramps or other accessibility modifications.

Important: Habitat's repair programs are currently at capacity and are not accepting applications. Because availability changes as funding and construction capacity become available, residents should check the official website for future application periods.

Official Website: Athens Area Habitat for Humanity — Home Repair Programs

Historic Athens

Hands On Historic Athens assists qualifying low-income homeowners with maintenance and repairs to homes that are at least 50 years old. Projects may include roof and gutter repairs, minor plumbing, accessibility modifications, weatherization, painting, floor and ceiling repairs, and other home-preservation work. The program receives Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding administered by Athens-Clarke County Housing & Community Development.

Historic Athens also operates the Equitable Home Preservation Initiative, which arranges one qualifying historic-home repair project valued at approximately $25,000 each quarter. This initiative is supported through Athens-Clarke County and Athens Justice and Memory Project funding.

Official Website: Historic Athens — Home Repair Programs

ACTION, Inc.

ACTION, Inc. provides Weatherization Assistance Services designed to improve the safety and energy efficiency of qualifying homes. Services are determined through an on-site energy and safety assessment and may include insulation, air-leakage reduction, weather stripping, window repairs, minor repairs, smoke detectors, and heating or water-heater repairs or replacement.

ACTION serves Athens-Clarke County and works with local partners on weatherization and energy-efficiency initiatives.

Official Website: ACTION, Inc.

Athens Land Trust

Athens Land Trust works to preserve affordable housing and strengthen neighborhood stability. Its community programs have included home repair, weatherization, energy-efficiency improvements, homeowner education, and connections to additional housing resources.

Athens Land Trust also partners with ACTION, Inc. and Athens-Clarke County on initiatives connecting residents with weatherization, energy, and home-repair resources.

Official Website: Athens Land Trust

Athens-Clarke County Housing & Community Development

Athens-Clarke County Housing & Community Development administers federal and local housing and community-development investments, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME funding.

Rather than providing every service directly, the department works with local organizations to support housing rehabilitation, accessibility improvements, affordable housing, neighborhood revitalization, and other community-development initiatives.

Official Website: Athens-Clarke County Housing & Community Development

Northeast Georgia Area Agency on Aging

The Northeast Georgia Area Agency on Aging connects older adults, people with disabilities, and caregivers with information and programs that support independent living, including caregiver resources, benefits assistance, long-term care information, and home- and community-based services.

For families who aren't sure where to begin, the Area Agency on Aging can be an important starting point for identifying available resources.

Official Website: Georgia Aging Services

Before You Apply

Home repair, accessibility, and weatherization programs have different eligibility requirements. Depending on the program, applicants may be asked for documents such as proof of homeownership, identification, household income, homeowners insurance, property-tax information, or information about the repairs needed.

Keeping important household documents organized can make it easier to respond when a program is accepting applications or new funding becomes available.

How The Bridge United Can Help

The Bridge United believes finding the right resource shouldn't be overwhelming.

While we don't administer these programs or determine eligibility, we're here to help individuals and families identify trusted resources, locate official program information, and find the right place to begin.

Rooted in Community. Powered by Connection.

Coming Next

Series 2 of 4

Transportation, Meals & Everyday Support

We'll explore transportation services, meal and grocery assistance, wellness programs, senior centers, and everyday resources that help older adults remain active, healthy, and connected.