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.

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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

Accessible Housing Workshop Series

Have you ever had difficulty finding housing that meets your accessibility needs? Have you been evicted or forced to move because of your accessibility needs? If yes, we need your help.

Eligibility Criteria

– Age 19 or older

– Identify as someone living with a disability

-Living in Metro Vancouver, Greater Toronto Area or Waterloo Region

Workshop 1: Accessible Housing on 16th, January, 2025 from 10-12 pm (PST)

Workshop 2: Living in Housing on 30th, January, 2025 from 10-12 pm (PST)

Workshop 3: Moving from Housing on 6th, February, 2024 from 10-12 pm (PST)

Accessible Housing Survey

If you are a person with a disability, or assisting a person with a disability, live in Metro Vancouver, the Greater Toronto Area or Waterloo Region and over the age of 19 we want to hear from you. The accessible housing survey is your chance to share your experiences gaining access to housing, living in housing and moving from housing.

If you have any questions or concerns about the workshop series or survey please you can contact our Principal Investigator, Dr. Nathanael Lauster, Associate Professor Department of Sociology, University of British Columbia

email: nathan.lauster@ubc.ca

phone: 604-827-3083

This study has been reviewed by UBC’s Research Ethics Board ID #H24-01324

Background

According to the 2022 Canadian Survey on Disabilities, 8 million Canadians over the age of 15 live with a disability. 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.

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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