ACCESSIBLE HOUSING NETWORK
A collaboration of non-profit Canadian organizations, advocating in support of people of all ages to live as they wish, in housing that is fully accessible.
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Our mission is to ensure that, whatever their age or ability, every person in Canada can live in housing
that is fully accessible. To this end, we call on every level of government to make universal design mandatory in every unit in all new multi-unit
residential buildings.
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We invite individuals and other groups to support our campaign by contacting their elected representatives
at all levels -- municipal, provincial, and federal.
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For a list of the Steering Committee members,
click here.
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We are proud to have 77 member organizations joining us in the campaign for accessible housing.
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Click here to sign our petition to the Ontario Legislative Assembly, calling for accessible housing.
Click here to sign our federal Change.org petition.
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Latest News
Accessible Housing Network statement for Ontario provincial election:
If you, or a loved one, suddenly became disabled, by a heart attack, stroke, MS, car accident, or other tragic experience, would you be able to stay in your current home? Or would you become homeless?
Statistics Canada reports that at least 28% of people in Ontario have a disability. This only includes people between 15 and 65 years old. It does not include the hundreds of children with disabilities or seniors, who have many disabilities.
However, there is no law requiring that any housing be accessible. So it is urgent to change the Ontario Building Code to make it mandatory that all new housing be accessible (universal design) so anyone of any age or ability can live there.
Australia has done this. We can do it too.
And we know that the benefits of having accessible housing would save millions of dollars for the Ontario government.
These benefits include:
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Fewer falls;
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Fewer ambulance calls;
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Fewer ER visits;
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Fewer hospitalizations;
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Reduced need for household and PSW support help;
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Reduced caregiver burnout;
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Reduced costs for long-term care. (Many people will be able to remain in their accessible homes.);
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Protection of seniors and persons with disabilities from catastrophes like those in long-term care during the pandemic;
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Improved mental and physical health;
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Increased employment of people with disabilities;
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Avoiding costly future renovations.
All of these benefits save millions of dollars for government!
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Front page coverage in the Toronto Star, Sept. 23, 2024: 'We have nowhere to go.'
Seniors say that their homes, and homes in their neighbourhoods, need to be fully accessible or adaptable to accessibility needs. They believe that seniors need options with Universal Design — an approach that aims to accommodate people of all ages and that can be adapted to changing needs and abilities. Universal Design would ensure that doors, for instance, are lightweight, with a lever handle, and wide so that they take minimal effort to open and are accessible for people with mobility devices. Here's the article.
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Toronto takes leadership on accessible housing, October 2024: Toronto City Council has unanimously accepted the recommendations of the Accessible Housing Working Group (which includes several AHN members). See the report, and the specific recommendations.
Now let's get other municipalities on board.
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