Community Advancement in Housing
DISABILITY RIGHTS IN HOUSING
We've gathered together some resources that support people with disabilities when navigating their rights when it comes to housing. Resources include links with instructions, complaint processes, sample letters, and more.
We've gathered together some resources that support people with disabilities when navigating their rights when it comes to housing. Resources include links with instructions, complaint processes, sample letters, and more.
The Reason Behind Our Work
disABILITYsa's involvement in community advancement work concerning housing will lead to more equitable, accessible, and inclusive living opportunities for people with disabilities in San Antonio. Through advocacy, collaboration, and raising awareness, we can drive positive change and make a significant impact on the lives of individuals with disabilities in our community.
There are several compelling reasons for our work in this area:
1. Equal Access to Housing: People with disabilities have the right to access safe, affordable, and accessible housing just like anyone else. disABILITYsa works to increase housing options in San Antonio are designed and equipped to meet the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities, allowing them to live independently and inclusively in the community.
2. Addressing Housing Discrimination: Unfortunately, housing discrimination against people with disabilities can still occur. disABILITYsa supports fair housing practices and raising awareness about the rights protected under laws like the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on disability.
3. Collaboration with Stakeholders: By engaging in community advancement work, disABILITYsa collaborates with local government agencies, housing providers, developers, and other relevant stakeholders. These collaborations lead to the development of inclusive policies, accessible housing initiatives, and improved services for people with disabilities.
4. Housing Affordability: Many individuals with disabilities face financial challenges, making affordable and accessible housing options even more critical. disABILITYsa works on affordable housing initiatives that consider the financial limitations of people with disabilities, ensuring that housing opportunities are accessible to all income levels.
5. Raising Awareness: Community advancement work provides an opportunity for disABILITYsa to raise awareness about the unique needs and challenges faced by people with disabilities in the housing sector. By educating the community, we can foster support for more inclusive and accessible housing solutions.
6. Policy and Regulatory Influence: By being actively involved in community advancement work, disABILITYsa participates in shaping local policies and regulations related to housing. Our expertise and input help create more inclusive and disability-friendly guidelines for housing development and management.
7. Improving Quality of Life: Access to suitable housing significantly impacts an individual's overall quality of life. By advocating for improved housing options and accessibility features, disABILITYsa contributes to enhancing the well-being and independence of people with disabilities in San Antonio.
8. Community Integration: Inclusive housing policies and initiatives promote community integration. When individuals with disabilities have access to suitable housing, they are more likely to participate in social, educational, and employment opportunities within the community, fostering a sense of belonging and reducing isolation.
1. Equal Access to Housing: People with disabilities have the right to access safe, affordable, and accessible housing just like anyone else. disABILITYsa works to increase housing options in San Antonio are designed and equipped to meet the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities, allowing them to live independently and inclusively in the community.
2. Addressing Housing Discrimination: Unfortunately, housing discrimination against people with disabilities can still occur. disABILITYsa supports fair housing practices and raising awareness about the rights protected under laws like the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on disability.
3. Collaboration with Stakeholders: By engaging in community advancement work, disABILITYsa collaborates with local government agencies, housing providers, developers, and other relevant stakeholders. These collaborations lead to the development of inclusive policies, accessible housing initiatives, and improved services for people with disabilities.
4. Housing Affordability: Many individuals with disabilities face financial challenges, making affordable and accessible housing options even more critical. disABILITYsa works on affordable housing initiatives that consider the financial limitations of people with disabilities, ensuring that housing opportunities are accessible to all income levels.
5. Raising Awareness: Community advancement work provides an opportunity for disABILITYsa to raise awareness about the unique needs and challenges faced by people with disabilities in the housing sector. By educating the community, we can foster support for more inclusive and accessible housing solutions.
6. Policy and Regulatory Influence: By being actively involved in community advancement work, disABILITYsa participates in shaping local policies and regulations related to housing. Our expertise and input help create more inclusive and disability-friendly guidelines for housing development and management.
7. Improving Quality of Life: Access to suitable housing significantly impacts an individual's overall quality of life. By advocating for improved housing options and accessibility features, disABILITYsa contributes to enhancing the well-being and independence of people with disabilities in San Antonio.
8. Community Integration: Inclusive housing policies and initiatives promote community integration. When individuals with disabilities have access to suitable housing, they are more likely to participate in social, educational, and employment opportunities within the community, fostering a sense of belonging and reducing isolation.
disABILITYsa's Work in San Antonio
CULTIVATING COMMUNITY RESILIENCY:
Housing and the Disability-Lived Experience
In 2021, disABILITYsa partnered with the City of San Antonio and Successfully Aging & Living Collective Impact at the San Antonio Area Foundation to host a series of discussions around housing and the disability-lived experience. These panel discussions featured the lived experience from the diverse perspective of the disability community. The panelists shared experiences and thoughts for identifying barriers in finding affordable and accessible housing and opportunities for change.
Housing and the Disability-Lived Experience
In 2021, disABILITYsa partnered with the City of San Antonio and Successfully Aging & Living Collective Impact at the San Antonio Area Foundation to host a series of discussions around housing and the disability-lived experience. These panel discussions featured the lived experience from the diverse perspective of the disability community. The panelists shared experiences and thoughts for identifying barriers in finding affordable and accessible housing and opportunities for change.
ACCESSORY DWELING DESIGN
disABILITYsa has partnered with the City of San Antonio and Able City who are calling creatives of all ages to take part in a design competition! The competition asks people to imagine and design an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) for a chance to win up to $500, including an accessible design category. This competition is an opportunity for people to explore how ADUs can impact everyone.
disABILITYsa has partnered with the City of San Antonio and Able City who are calling creatives of all ages to take part in a design competition! The competition asks people to imagine and design an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) for a chance to win up to $500, including an accessible design category. This competition is an opportunity for people to explore how ADUs can impact everyone.
STRATEGIC HOUSING IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
The SHIP was developed in collaboration with community and housing stakeholders (including disABILITYsa) and included an outreach and input process to receive community input that will be overseen by the Housing Commission.
disABILITYsa served on the Residents & Community Forum and helped inform strategies CHS1, CHS2, CHS7, HPP3, and most importantly HPRP4 which will go a long way toward providing individuals living with disabilities more equitable access to affordable housing options. Read our letter of support for the SHIP by clicking here.
The SHIP was developed in collaboration with community and housing stakeholders (including disABILITYsa) and included an outreach and input process to receive community input that will be overseen by the Housing Commission.
disABILITYsa served on the Residents & Community Forum and helped inform strategies CHS1, CHS2, CHS7, HPP3, and most importantly HPRP4 which will go a long way toward providing individuals living with disabilities more equitable access to affordable housing options. Read our letter of support for the SHIP by clicking here.
2022 HOUSING BOND
Projects that receive bond funding must provide 100% of units with universal design (as defined by the Unified Development Code) with a minimum of one ADA compliant pedestrian route to each unit when technically feasible. All projects that receive bond funding must show a commitment to sustainability.
Projects that receive bond funding must provide 100% of units with universal design (as defined by the Unified Development Code) with a minimum of one ADA compliant pedestrian route to each unit when technically feasible. All projects that receive bond funding must show a commitment to sustainability.
SUCCESSFULLY AGING AND LIVING IN SAN ANTONIO
This SALSA Workgroup works towards a vision where neighborhoods and housing across Bexar County are safe, affordable and accessible for older adults, at all income and abilities levels resulting in successfully aging in place.
disABILITYsa serves as a member of this collective impact at the intersection of aging and disability, working to help ensure there is accessible, affordable housing available in neighborhoods where individuals with disabilities and older adults can live as independently and inclusively as possible. We are working toward a more Visitable community where all homes are built with a zero barrier entry way, wider hallways and doorways, and include an accessible restroom on the ground floor.
This SALSA Workgroup works towards a vision where neighborhoods and housing across Bexar County are safe, affordable and accessible for older adults, at all income and abilities levels resulting in successfully aging in place.
disABILITYsa serves as a member of this collective impact at the intersection of aging and disability, working to help ensure there is accessible, affordable housing available in neighborhoods where individuals with disabilities and older adults can live as independently and inclusively as possible. We are working toward a more Visitable community where all homes are built with a zero barrier entry way, wider hallways and doorways, and include an accessible restroom on the ground floor.
REMOVING BARRIERS TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING
The Removing Barriers to Affordable Housing Development Subcommittee (RBSC) has been assigned the task of suggesting ways to improve the Unified Development Code and other city processes. Their primary goal is to make it easier for developers to build more affordable housing in San Antonio. By proposing changes and enhancements, they aim to facilitate the construction of homes that are within the financial reach of a broader range of people in the city.
disABILITYsa plays a crucial role in planning discussions by advocating for the needs of people with disabilities. We bring attention to the scarcity of accessible homes and emphasize that retrofitting a home for accessibility after it's built often leads to unaffordable housing options.
The Removing Barriers to Affordable Housing Development Subcommittee (RBSC) has been assigned the task of suggesting ways to improve the Unified Development Code and other city processes. Their primary goal is to make it easier for developers to build more affordable housing in San Antonio. By proposing changes and enhancements, they aim to facilitate the construction of homes that are within the financial reach of a broader range of people in the city.
disABILITYsa plays a crucial role in planning discussions by advocating for the needs of people with disabilities. We bring attention to the scarcity of accessible homes and emphasize that retrofitting a home for accessibility after it's built often leads to unaffordable housing options.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH
The Public Engagement and Outreach Subcommittee is charged to efficiently engage the public through guidance, support, and oversight of Neighborhood and Housing Service department’s public engagement as it relates to policies developed in response to Housing Policy Framework and Strategic Housing Implementation Plan (SHIP).
disABILITYsa staff serve as a member of this sub-committee to help inform the outreach efforts for the City of San Antonio to work with our networks to help ensure information about affordable housing programs and supports is available in accessible formats and reaching the disability communities in San Antonio.
The Public Engagement and Outreach Subcommittee is charged to efficiently engage the public through guidance, support, and oversight of Neighborhood and Housing Service department’s public engagement as it relates to policies developed in response to Housing Policy Framework and Strategic Housing Implementation Plan (SHIP).
disABILITYsa staff serve as a member of this sub-committee to help inform the outreach efforts for the City of San Antonio to work with our networks to help ensure information about affordable housing programs and supports is available in accessible formats and reaching the disability communities in San Antonio.
INFLUENCING THE FUTURE OF DESIGN
disABILITYsa has partnered with Neda Norouzi, an assistant professor in the UTSA School of Architecture and Planning, and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Center for Architects at San Antonio in the classroom. Working together, each course encourages students to practice evidence-based design and gives them experience using architecture as a tool to apply in real word settings. Students are also gaining lessons in compassion, empathy and the impact design can have on people.
disABILITYsa has partnered with Neda Norouzi, an assistant professor in the UTSA School of Architecture and Planning, and the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Center for Architects at San Antonio in the classroom. Working together, each course encourages students to practice evidence-based design and gives them experience using architecture as a tool to apply in real word settings. Students are also gaining lessons in compassion, empathy and the impact design can have on people.
- Fall 2021: Designing Homes for People with Disabilities
At the beginning of the fall 2021 semester, students were randomly assigned to five different scenarios that included a family situation and their living space. These scenarios included a single father with his young son who is blind, a family of three with a mom who is deaf, a young couple with a husband who uses an electrical wheelchair, a couple with a teen daughter with autism, and a young family of four who want to age in place. The students were tasked with researching how to accommodate each situation and also asked to consider the results of a disABILITYsa survey that showed some of the challenges the pandemic presented.
UTSA Article | SA Magazine Article - Spring 2023: Creating a health campus for people who have visual disabilities
UTSA Article | Spectrum News Coverage | Express News Article
