By Victoria McCabe
The Timeless Touch Ups Project has been an incredible success, thanks to our amazing community. This initiative aimed to bring joy and support to our seniors, and the results were truly heartwarming. Volunteers dedicated their time to help in various ways, from home improvements to organizing social activities. These efforts have strengthened the bonds between generations and created a lasting impact. Together, we’ve shown that compassion and collaboration can make a real difference.
If you’ve been with us for a while, you know that one of our most cherished initiatives has been the Timeless Touch Ups Project. It’s hard to believe, but this journey began a little over two years ago. We started with a vision to support our senior neighbors—the pillars of our community—by making their homes safer and more accessible.
Today, we want to pause and share a major update on where we stand. There is so much good news to share, and even more opportunities for you to get involved as we look toward the future.
Honoring Our Elders by Investing in Their Homes
Our seniors have spent decades investing in our neighborhoods, raising families, and building the culture that makes Detroit what it is. As they age, their homes often need modifications to accommodate changing physical needs. Without these changes, many seniors face the heartbreaking decision of leaving the homes they love. We wanted to change that narrative.
Thanks to the incredible support from Enterprise Community Partners, we secured vital funding through the Thome Aging Well Program. This partnership wasn’t just about dollars and cents; it was a validation of our mission to center the needs of Black Detroiters and our aging community members.
The goal was clear: modify twelve homes in our community. We weren’t looking to just slap on a coat of paint. We aimed to make substantive, functional changes that would improve the daily lives of our senior neighbors. We’re talking about accessibility upgrades that mean the difference between struggling to get up the front steps and entering one’s home with ease. It’s about safety, comfort, and ultimately, respect.
Measuring Our Impact: 12 Homes, Countless Smiles
So, where are we now?
We are thrilled to report that we have successfully finished improvements on nine of the twelve homes. That is nine families who are breathing a little easier today. That is nine homes that are now better equipped to support their residents for years to come.
Construction and renovation work is never without its headaches—prices are through the roof, and scheduling can be a beast—but seeing the results makes every hurdle worth it. We are currently on track to complete the work on the remaining residences by the end of August. We are pushing hard to cross that finish line, ensuring that we fulfill our promise to every single one of those twelve homeowners.
While we are celebrating this progress, we also want to be transparent: applications for home modifications through this specific project are closed. We know the need is great, and closing applications is always the hardest part. However, this is not the end of our commitment to our seniors or to housing justice in Detroit. It is just the closing of one chapter as we prepare to open several new ones.
Beyond Bricks and Mortar: Knowledge is Power
Fixing homes is crucial, but building a resilient community requires more than just construction crews. It requires knowledge sharing, resource distribution, and collective planning. That is why we are pivoting our focus to ensure that everyone in our community has the tools they need to age well and maintain their homes.
We are so excited to announce two major initiatives coming up in the summer of 2025. These programs are designed to fill the gaps, providing resources and education that go beyond physical home repairs.
The DREAM Housing Symposium
Mark your calendars (mentally, at least!) for the DREAM Housing Symposium, taking place in the Summer of 2025.
We are envisioning this as a massive gathering of minds and resources. It won’t be your typical, stuffy conference. This is for us. The symposium will offer critical resources for local homeowners, featuring tables and booths from local Detroit organizations that are doing the work on the ground.
Importantly, the event will feature a panel conversation with national experts on housing. We are bringing the best and brightest to Detroit to discuss strategies for housing stability and community development. But more than just listening to experts, this is a chance for participants to network. We want you to connect with these groups, ask hard questions, and gain the specific knowledge you need to support aging in place with dignity.
The Wellness Workshop Series
In addition to the symposium, we are pleased to announce our Wellness Workshop series, also scheduled for the Summer of 2025.
We believe that “wellness” encompasses everything from your physical health to your financial stability. To that end, we are launching an 8-week program where participants will meet once a week to learn from expert guest speakers right here in the Detroit community.
We are curating a curriculum that covers a wide variety of subjects. We’re talking about:
- Gardening: How to grow your own food and beautify your space.
- Financial Help: Navigating the economic landscape, budgeting, and securing assets.
- Health and Wellness: Tips for staying active and healthy at any age.
But here is the deal—we don’t want to just guess what you need. We want to build this series with you. We would love to hear your input on potential topics. What are you struggling with? What skills do you want to learn? What information would make your life easier?
Together, we can create something truly impactful. By working alongside each other and sharing ideas, we can ensure this series becomes a resource that benefits everyone. We know how busy life can get, but your input will make all the difference. That’s why we hope you’ll take a moment to fill out this survey (link) and help shape the topics we’ll cover. Whether it’s tackling something you’re struggling with, improving a specific skill, or finding information that simplifies your days, your feedback is invaluable. After all, your voice is the foundation of this community, and your needs are what guide us every step of the way. Together, we’ll build workshops that are not only useful but also meaningful for everyone involved.
Join Us in Building the Future
We are making steady progress on big plans. The completion of the Timeless Touch Ups Project is a huge milestone, but it’s really just a stepping stone to the larger work of community revitalization through the DREAM Community Land Trust.
Unquestionably, we know that construction prices are high and the political climate can be exhausting (don’t even get us started on the need for genuine leadership right now 😅), but we can’t let that stop our work. We have to keep building. Keep organizing, and we have to keep educating.
Every fundraiser, every meeting, and every conversation is not just an event but a building block interwoven into our shared mission. Therefore, as we continue to push forward, it’s essential to recognize how each effort adds up, piece by piece, to create real and lasting change. Additionally, we understand the challenges ahead may feel overwhelming at times; however, these moments underscore why our commitment matters even more. Consequently, by staying connected and working in unison, we can overcome obstacles and grow stronger as a community. Together, we will continue turning our shared dreams into a thriving reality.
If you have any questions about the Timeless Touch Ups Project, the upcoming Housing Symposium, or the Wellness Workshop series, please do not hesitate to reach out. You can contact our amazing Economic Development Associate, Yasmine Suleiman, at yasmine@dreamofdetroit.org. She is ready to answer your questions and help you get plugged in.
A Final Word of Gratitude
Lastly, to our partners at Enterprise Community Partners and the Thome Aging Well Program: thank you for believing in our vision. To the contractors and crew members working through the summer heat and the winter cold to finish these homes: thank you for your labor. And to our neighbors: thank you for trusting us with your homes and your stories.
This is exactly what we are trying to do. We are mobilizing resources, connecting neighbors, and doing the work that needs to be done. We look forward to sharing more information about our projects with you all soon!
