People with disabilities include/are diverse and so are their housing needs. Housing considerations for people with disabilities can be categorized into three areas: affordability, accessibility and inclusivity. Learn about these central pillars, what they mean and why they are foundational in understanding The Kelsey’s work.

We know there’s a shortage of housing options for people with disabilities. Not being satisfied with the typical answer of “we just need more housing” led us on a journey to know more. This piece chronicles the convening of three relevant stakeholder teams creating and scoping a problem definition and then evaluating and ranking six existing housing models. The Together We Can Do More process mirrors this one in many ways, including intense problem defining, cross sector stakeholder engagement and proposed solutions. The insights and lessons learned here continue to inform our work to this day.

The Kelsey embarked on a nine-month organizing and predevelopment process called Together We Can Do More that focused on a clear lack of funding, strategies, and operating models to address the housing needs of adults with disabilities around the Bay Area. Cross-sector stakeholders participated in a three-part workshop series that defined the problems driving disability housing shortages, identified interventions, and designed what new solutions could and should look like in the Bay Area and beyond. The Together We Can Do More process is one that can be implemented in your own community.

So often disability housing models start with iterations on existing structures. We start with broken systems or outdated models and work to adjust, modify, or rebuild them. But, what if we designed for what we actually wanted to do? What if we created something based on our vision for the future not our frustrations from the past? We’re working with our partners to do just that. We think it starts with giving the right questions to smart people.

The Kelsey defines inclusive housing as housing with residents who are a mix of people with and without disabilities. But why does inclusion matter? How does it specifically benefit the community? The management and building staff will serve all residents, with and without disabilities. In inclusive housing, these efforts foster interaction, understanding, and connection across people of all abilities and backgrounds.

Over 55,000 individuals with developmental disabilities in the Bay Area face a housing crisis. This crisis impacts families and communities across the state.

Over 14.7 million Americans with disabilities face a housing crisis. This crisis impacts families and communities across the country. Here’s what you need to know:

For adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities, a suitable home is sometimes almost impossible to come by. Hundreds of thousands of adults with disabilities across the U.S. sit on housing “wait lists” for home and community-based services. Even if they’re ready to make the move out of their parents’ home into the community or independent living, the housing options and funding supports often don’t exist.