Building a strong support and services delivery system within affordable and mixed income housing communities fosters inclusion and improves housing retention for both disabled and non-disabled residents, but the process can be challenging to conceptualize and fund. Reviewing key elements of The Kelsey’s approach to solving this problem through the Inclusion Concierge model can help you navigate the creation of your own supportive, inclusive housing community.

One in four Americans lives with a disability, yet it’s estimated that less than 6% of the national housing supply is designed to be accessible. As housing communities are created, they don’t often meet the diverse accessibility and inclusion needs of people with disabilities. While basic code and compliance measures require specific features, no holistic set of guidelines and standards define an implementable, progressive approach to design truly accessible and inclusive housing communities. Equipping designers, builders, and developers with a set of standards and a new framework for disability-forward design, that highlights accessibility and inclusion, can drastically improve housing quality and housing options for all people.

This overview walks you step-by-step through hosting your own inclusive community workshops for your housing project. It covers the type of workshops, who and how to invite participants, and accessibility of process and materials with tips and best practices throughout. This resource will give you practical insight into anchoring community workshops in inclusion and helping participants feel comfortable, welcomed and valued.

This article is a great resource for disability-forward minded individuals and organizations who own a piece of land and seek to develop inclusive housing. Specifically, this piece details the first five necessary steps to becoming an inclusive houser. Disability-forward housing is anchored in inclusion and seeks to put the lived experiences of people with disabilities top of mind. By the end of this article, you will know and better understand the five steps required to get started in developing a piece of land into an inclusive housing community.

It is not enough to claim to center your organization’s work on inclusion. Your organization also needs to increase the disabled leadership in every facet of your work. This means ensuring your projects and programs are co-led by people with and without disabilities. Learn some tips and best practices on the critical importance of reflecting disabled leadership in your work.

26% of people have a disability, yet it’s estimated that less than 6% of the national housing supply is designed to be accessible. The Housing Design Standards for Accessibility and Inclusion consist of over 300 Elements, which reflect design operations and choices that include development strategies, building features, or operational policies that support accessibility and inclusion. The Design Standards organize elements by Design Categories, Impact Areas, and Additional Benefits. Click to download the standards and a self-certification tool.

Conversations around disability-inclusive housing often center on discussions of physical housing types and supports and services. While these elements are fundamental, The Kelsey believes that these two elements are should be considered as necessary to support a crucial third element: community life. Read on to learn more about The Kelsey’s triangle graphic and its application to thriving inclusive communities.

Many people believe in stereotypes and misguided myths about people with disabilities generally, not to mention their housing needs. We seek to bust these myths by unpacking, deconstructing then educating about the truth behind disability housing. Replace the stereotypes and misconceptions with facts about the realities faced by people with disabilities in housing.

Conversations around disability-inclusive housing often center on discussions of physical housing types and supports and services. While these elements are fundamental, The Kelsey believes that these two elements are should be considered as necessary to support a crucial third element: community life. Read on to learn more about The Kelsey’s triangle graphic and its application to thriving inclusive communities.