The rising cost of living presents itself as a problem of affordability which leaves the poorest and most vulnerable homeless.
The Ontario government thinks it can solve the affordability problem by building more and more houses, but this will ultimately fail. As well as the quantity of homes built it must also address their quality.
The key to quality housing is its accessibility, and the tool for achieving it is Universal Design. This discipline aims to provide housing which accommodates people of all ages and abilities – including the homeless, elders and persons with disabilities from birth, illness or accident.
A few architects and developers, like the Daniels Corporation, are leading the way in addressing the housing crisis through Universal Design. To make housing truly affordable, they are making it accessible for ALL!
Politicians who seize opportunities to celebrate diversity and inclusion must realize that the way we build houses must change fundamentally. Most new homes are multi-story townhouses or apartments intended exclusively for able-bodied persons. When designers and builders continue to ignore Universal Design principles, is it any wonder that we are left with inaccessible and unaffordable housing?
As previously reported, a study by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation showed that -- accessible or not -- the cost of building a new apartment is the same. It notes that when apartments are designed from the start to accommodate diverse needs, later expensive renovations are dramatically reduced, and that these homes have greater resale value. We would also add that they free up seniors' older homes for younger generations who are struggling to enter the housing market.
Since universal accessibility is the key to making housing more affordable, the Accessible Housing Network has launched its own petition. This petition will serve to add support with more signatures.
AHN’s petition asks the Ontario Legislative Assembly to mandate Universal Design through its building code in order to end housing discrimination against elders and people with disabilities. Reach it by clicking in the box below.
If you have already signed this petition, please consider signing AHN’s petition as well, and continue sharing both petitions with friends and contacts.