Not Just Ramps—Disability and Housing Justice

Disability and housing intersect in many ways. What comes to mind for most people is physical accessibility, but accessibility is not always a matter of physical spaces. A wide range of policies, rules, and procedures can also have accessibility implications, often unintended. Over the next several months in our new Under the Lens series, Not Just Ramps—Disability and Housing Justice, we’ll delve into some of the different laws that are supposed to require accessible spaces and reduce discrimination, as well as the tactics and resources housing developers can use to prioritize making disability-friendly housing. Don’t miss a story—sign up for our newsletter today.

Concrete steps on a gently sloping grassy hill go up three steps, then become discontinuous with the steps above them. They're somehow (it's not clear how) raised up, so that on the third step a walker would have to step down before going on to the next step up.

Poor by Design: SSI Asset Caps

Lara Heard - August 2, 2023

A back view of a man in a brown/gray checked coat and a light gray watch cap entering an open door. To either side of the door are wispy shrubs, green against the white walls.His gloved right hand is on the door. He has an orange crossbody bag over his left shoulder. The room ahead of him, inside the house, has orange walls or the light gives an orangey glow.

Developing Housing that Welcomes People With Developmental Disabilities

Brandon Duong - July 25, 2023

Close view of part of a closed door, showing a mail slot above two small signs, and below them, a buzzer. One sign is the universal icon for accessibility: a wheelchair. The other says, "Please ring bell for attention."

Why Aren’t Homeless Shelters Accommodating People Who Have Disabilities?

Corey McDonald - July 19, 2023

A woman in a motorized wheelchair travels along a rural road with no sidewalks, as a bus approaches close to her from the opposite direction. Standing on the coarse gravel shoulder of the road is a man with a dog.

The Road to Transportation Equity: Listening to Non-Drivers

Deborah Myerson - July 13, 2023

Laying the groundwork for transportation equity can start with listening to disabled people’s experiences of infrastructure for non-drivers.

How the Housing Shortage Is Forcing People With Disabilities Into Institutions

Shelby R. King - July 5, 2023

People with disabilities have the constitutional right to choose community-based care rather than institutionalization, but without enough accessible, affordable units, some are still being forced to live in nursing homes.

Making Housing More Accessible for People With Multiple Chemical Sensitivities

Sandra Larson - June 28, 2023

Accessibility for this challenging disability can look different from other measures—but addressing it could help improve everyone’s health.

An artist's rendering of a bungalow-style two-family home in white and blue with yellow doors. At left, a winding ramp leads to one door; at right, conventional steps lead to the entrance of the other residence.

The [Un]Affordability of Accessibility: The Challenge of Retrofitting American Homes

Cinnamon Janzer - June 22, 2023

Home modifications vary greatly in form and cost, a challenge for disabled residents whose homes aren't accessible to them.

Close-up of the word NO stencil-painted on blacktop

Accessible Housing Is Not Just About How Buildings Are Built

Miriam Axel-Lute - June 20, 2023

The ways in which buildings are managed after they are built also affects how accessible and inclusive they are.

A large open space with a staircase that has multicolored balusters. At left is a large mural of people with different skin tones and in front of it is a person holding a small child. Dual handrails on staircase ensure adult and child can safely use stairs by holding height appropriate handrails. There’s another small child, this one on crutches, and a woman in white is crouching beside him. There’s a man on the landing of the staircase and a small girl climbing the steps. Behind her is a woman carrying a bag or briefcase and drinking from a cup.

Cross-Disability Design Makes Housing Better for Everyone

Fatimah Aure and Caroline Bas - June 13, 2023

Affordable housing projects should incorporate a range of accessibility features, going above and beyond code requirements.

Six disabled people of color smile and pose in front of a concrete wall. Five people stand in the back, with the Black woman in the center holding up a chalkboard sign reading "disabled and here." A South Asian person in a wheelchair sits in front.

Which U.S. Laws Require Accessibility in Housing—And How Well Do They Do?

Meir Rinde - June 12, 2023

Activists have been fighting for decades to expand accessible housing for disabled residents. They’ve made progress, but say that current regulations and enforcement don’t go far enough.

A composite picture that includes blueprint-style drawings on blue, a row of apartments in pink and a tall tower in blue. Large figures are a smiling young woman with long black hair and a smiling young man in a wheelchair. Smaller images include people with canes and in wheelchairs, and two men seated on a bench at a bus stop, the older one wearing dark glasses and holding a cane.

Disability Justice and Equity in Housing

Miriam Axel-Lute - June 12, 2023

Welcome to Shelterforce’s newest Under the Lens series, Not Just Ramps—Disability and Housing Justice. This introductory article lays out why the connection between disability and affordable housing is so strong, and why it’s so important for housers to understand.