Some homeowners in the West Shore area of Southwest Philadelphia have a secret admirer this Valentine’s Day – the AARP and Rebuilding Together Philadelphia. The organizations have announced community rehabilitation projects for the neighborhood’s older adult homeowners and for the Southwest Community Enrichment Center. Dedicated volunteers and community partners like USP will offer free home repair services to low-income members of the West Shore community.
USP’s Pamalyn Kearney, vice chair and assistant professor of occupational therapy, will be participating in the projects along with some of her OT students. On February 16, they will perform home evaluations to assess the needs of the homeowners. Then on the weekends of March 29 and April 5, they will be doing the actual home modification work.
In recognition of the AARP’s 50th anniversary, Rebuilding Together Philadelphia has joined this community service project to improve the lives of West Shore residents. Through their combined efforts and with plans by the Community Design Collaborative, handicapped accessibility will be added to the Southwest Community Enrichment Center, essential repairs will be done for ten homeowners, and home modifications will be made for older adults. The project is part of AARP’s long-standing support of livable communities that allow residents to age in place by removing physical barriers and employing universal design features to make homes livable despite advanced age or physical limitations.
The West Shore neighborhood rehabilitation project launch will commence the projects on Valentine’s Day, Thursday, February 14 from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Southwest Community Enrichment Center at 1341 S. 46 Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19143.