Accessible Housing Needs in Canada
The purpose of this project is to understand the extent to which housing meets the accessibility needs of Canadians. The goal is to build a case for policy reform to ensure that accessibility considerations are a key piece of the National Housing Strategy’s progressive realization of the right to housing.
Is housing truly accessible for all?
There are two research questions, 1. What accessibility considerations do people with accessibility needs prioritize, and 2. To what extent are the accessibility needs of Canadian households being met?
Project Lead(s):
Home Organization:
University of British Columbia
Other Participants:
Community Partner:
Funding stream:
Community-Focused Project
Project Status:
Ongoing
Background
According to the 2017 Canadian Survey on Disabilities, 6.2 million Canadians over the age of 15 live with a disability (1). This has direct implications to housing need that are often overlooked. CMHC’s definition of core housing needs does not consider housing accessibility, or whether the unit is built or moderated in a way to support the everyday needs of the inhabitants. Research from Australia has highlighted the importance of accessible housing and its role in increasing mental and physical wellbeing, reducing social isolation, decreasing people’s support needs, and increasing workforce participation (2)
Methodology
For the first questions we will work with lived-experience experts to design a survey to explore the accessibility needs of people living with a disability (PLWD) in Canada. The survey will include input on how to best identify PLWD, as well as how to measure and monitor accessibility. We will also work to ensure that the survey is accessible by working with PLWD to ensure different accessibility options are accounted for. Questions two will be explored using Canadian Housing Survey data.
The findings will be shared through a final report that outlines the role that each level of government can play in meeting the needs of Canadian households.
Research Outputs
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