The new “Redefining Home: Home Today, Home Tomorrow” contest will create a model home forgrowing in place

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA) December 9, 2015 | Architects and designers are invited to present concepts to model the future of housing – for millions of older Americans – with the new Redefining Home: Home Today, Home Tomorrow  design challenge, presented by the AARP, AARP Foundation, Home Matters® and the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation. “AIASF is excited to collaborate on this meaningful design challenge in viting architects and designers to present affordable housing solutions that add resslivability needs for individuals at every stage of life. While life sometimes takes off in many new directions, we share the goal of our partners to create a safe and nurturing home that continues to grow with us through the years,” comments Jennifer Jones, AIASF ExecutiveDirector.

The competition is part of the Home Matters national movement, designed to ensure every American lives in a safe, nurturing environment with access to education, healthcare, public spaces and community services.  The Redefining Home: Home Today, Home Tomorrow, Home Tomorrow winning entry’s design will be integrated into an actual home, and the contest will be unveiled at AARP’s Future of Housing Summit. The competition challenges architects and designers to address housing needs for Americans  particularly for people for people 50â�plus who intend ongrowing in place.

“We know that the vast majority of people want to remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible,” said Lisa Marsh Ryerson, AARP Foundation president. “More than 19 million lowâ�income 50â�plus households struggle with unaffordable or inadequate housing and we must act now to implement innovative housing solutions. We look forward to seeing design concepts that will help create new ways of addressing our nation’s housing needs for our communities including vulnerable seniors.”

The Redefining Home: Home Today, Home Tomorrow contest challenges architects to create new standards in housing design so people can stay in their home as they travel through various life stages: From entering the workforce, getting married, having a family, sending kids to college, becoming a grand parent,following their passions with new careers and hobbies,and consid eringretirement.The goal of the design challenge is to generate universal design elements and build an attractive, adaptable, and affordable home of the future that speaks to and showcases livability, by promoting both aesthetically and functionally appealing designs for better living. designs for betterliving.

Monetary awards will be made to three juried winning entries. The first place, winning design incorporated into a real life home will be publically unveiled to provide an experiential learning opportunity for the general public. This home will also be offered to a growingfamily.

Martin Sundquist, executive director of the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation added, “We believe everyonedeservesadecent,safeplacetocallhome.Whilepeopletendtobuyorliveinhomesbased on their presentâ�day circumstances, this can present issues at other life stages. Moving costs money, creates emotional stress, leaves behind precious memories, disrupts relationships, and creates impediments to accessing support services. This design challenge will ultimately build stronger communities by creating affordable housingsolutions.”

TheaveragecostofamovewithintheU.S.is$12,459alone,accordingtotheAmericanMoving& StorageAssociation.

Home Matters’ CEO Dave Brown commented, “Life is about change. This competition alters the paradigm and reâ�imagines Home so it can change with our needs, as we evolve in life. Home Matters believesstronglythatHomeisaqualityoflifeissue andthiscompetitionspeaksdirectlytothat–the elements that make for a safe, nurturing place to callHome.”

Architects and designers can register today at http://bit.ly/1jg5R1t . Submissions will be open on January20th.

Thirty architectural,design,university partners and othe rorganizations are supporting this competition� from our lead partner AIA San Francisco to AIA Austin, AIA California Council, AIA DC, AIA Los Angeles, AIA Houston, AIA New Orleans, AIA Seattle, AIA Tennessee, American Architectural Foundation, American Society of Interior Designers, Boston Society of Architects, Caring Across Generations, Design Corps, Enterprise, Habitat for Humanity, Journeyman International, Leading Age, Make Room For Home, National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Organization of Minority Architects, Neighbor Works America, New York School of Interior Design, Public Architecture, Syracuse Architecture, Texas Society of Architecture, Rice School of Architecture, SPUR, Urban Land Institute (Terwilliger Center for Housing) and The AutodeskFoundation.

This is these cond year of the Re�defining Home competition.Lastyear,HomeMatters challenged architects and allied professionals to design a multi�family unit that addressed affordability and community issues.

About AARP

AARP is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, with a membership of nearly 38 million, that helpspeople turn their goals and dreams into real possibilities, strengthens communities and fights for the issues that matter most to families such as healthcare, employment and income security, retirement planning, affordable utilities and protection from financial abuse.We advocate for individuals in the market place by selecting products and services of high quality and value to carry the AARP name as well as help our members obtain discounts on a wide range of products, travel, and services. A trusted source for lifestyle tips,news and educational information,AARP produces AARP The Magazine,the world's largest circulation magazine; AARP Bulletin; www.aarp.org; AARP TV & Radio; AARP Books; and AARP en Español, a Spanishâ�language website addressing the interests and needs of Hispanics. AARP does not endorse candidates for public office or make contributions to political campaigns or candidates. The AARP Foundation is an affiliated charity that provides security, protection, and empowerment to older persons in need with support from thousands of volunteers, donors, and sponsors. AARP has staffed offices in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Learn more at www.aarp.org.

About AARP Foundation

AARP Foundation is working to win back opportunity for struggling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face today: housing, hunger, income and isolation. By coordinating responses to these issues on all four fronts at once, and supporting them with vigorous legal advocacy, the Foundation serves the unique needs of those 50+ while working with local organizations nationwide to reach more people, strengthen communities, work more efficiently and make resources go further. AARP Foundation is AARP’s affiliated charity. Learn more at www.aarpfoundation.org.

About Home Matters®

Home Matters is a national movement designed to ensure that every American lives in a safe, nurturing environment with access to education, healthcare, public spaces and community services. A key part of what we are doing is reâ�defining the American Dream. We believe the New American Dream is asocietal commitment to improve and balance quality of life and that Home is our nation’s common denominator. We exist to raise funds and build awareness of the need for more affordable homes and better communities across the country. We’re a national coalition with over 300 nonprofit, government and corporate partners working hard toward ambitious goals over the next decade. www.homemattersamerica.com.

About The Wells Fargo Housing Foundation

In 2014, the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation donated nearly $20 million in support of affordable housing initiatives serving lowâ�and moderateâ�income households – including for seniors, veterans, and families – through community revitalization efforts. Since its inception in 1993, the Wells Fargo Housing Foundation has invested more than $150 million to such efforts, along with mobilizing more than 4.6 million team member volunteer hours to build and rehabilitate more than 5,500 homes and counting. www.wellsfargo.com/about/wfhf_oview.


Contact:

Helen Malani HomeMatters® 
Phone: (310)897-8975
Email: Email Contact