Livable Community Village Approach

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2009

The Village Approach was created under the umbrella of the countywide Livable Communities: A Vision for All Ages project that was launched in 2006. Livable Communities offer seniors the opportunity to add life to their years by staying civically and socially engaged within their communities. Livable Communities support seniors remaining in their homes with appropriate and affordable housing options including a wide range of recreational and cultural activities, access to good healthcare, and mobility options that include public transportation and walkable streets. To make senior-friendly communities a reality, it requires involvement at the local level. The Village Approach is the vehicle to create the bottom-up strategy of neighbors helping neighbors. Livable Community Villages are networks of people with shared interest. Many such villages already exist throughout Westchester in the form of houses of worship, congregate housing, and civic and social organizations. The Village Approach encourages the interaction of all ages in collaboration to make a difference within their communities. A Village Toolkit was developed to assist villages and its members with the necessary skills, strategies, and tools to address quality of life issues and concerns.