VisitAble HousingFrom Concept to Reality

Kitchener-Waterloo Task Force

March 23, 2016

Purpose of Today’s ForumTo provide an overview of VisitAble housing

and what has been learned about building VisitAble housing in Waterloo Region in work done by the K-W and area VisitAble Housing Task Force

To invite key stakeholder groups to explore how they can apply what has been learned.

ObjectivesIncrease understanding of VisitAble housing as

necessary to an inclusive community

Increase knowledge about the requirements and potential challenges to building VisitAble housing in Waterloo region

Inspire commitment and creative solutions within and between key stakeholder groups

Wrap up the current phase of work toward VisitAble housing

VisitAble Housing Project

Purpose: To develop awareness and commitment to

building VisitAble Housing

Coordinated by Canadian Centre on Disabilities StudiesLocal Task Force is one of six (6) across Canada

Local VisitAble Housing Task Force

Develop awareness and commitment to

implementing VisitAble Housing in Waterloo Region

What is VisitAble Housing?

Three basic features to make a home accessible to anyone:

• One no-step entrance on the main, visit-able level, exterior threshold not over 13mm (1/2 in.) in height

• Wider doorways (36 in.) and hallways (43.25 in.) on the main, visit-able level

• Minimum half bath with turning radius to allow mobility devices such as a walker or wheelchair (1500 mm/5ft radius)

One No Step EntranceFront, side OR back entrance

Also provide barrier free path of access to the entrance

Wider Doorways & Hallways

Half Bath With Turning RadiusA bathroom that can be

accessed by visitors who use mobility devices

What VisitAble Housing Is/Is Not!VisitAble Housing is the minimum

standard for accessibility

Ensures a home can be visited by friends and family members who have mobility limitations

Does not define all possible accessibility features

The Accessible Design Spectrum

VisitAble Housing Adaptable Housing Accessible Housing0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Level of Accessibility

Tota

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f Fe

atur

es

Minimum Standard: Basic features to make main level accessible.

Additional fea-tures to make is easier to renov-ate if needed.

Specific accessibility fea-tures in all areas of a home – inside and out

Who Benefits?Aging in place

Disabilities – permanent or temporary

People with disabilities can visit their friends/family

Generally helpful to anyone– moving, baby strollers, groceries, etc.

Societal Benefits Social inclusion

Human rights

Aging population

High cost of care – health and housing

Building basic accessibility features less costly than renovations

Local Task Force

Members reflect different perspectives

Role:Planning stakeholder engagementInput and testing of research and education materialsEngagement stakeholder groups e.g. making

presentations

Planning: Identify Stakeholders

Real Estate Professionals

Builders and Developers

Planners and Regulators

Service Providers and Advocates

Consumers

Local WorkEstablished task force and planned stakeholder engagementWebsite and education – numerous newspaper articles, social

media, Personal testimonials to document experiencesLocal examples of visitable housing – in progressInformation session for planners and builders – Oct/14Realtor professionals workshop and Guide & checklist to provide

common terms for VisitAble, Adaptable and AccessibleCreated a checklist for home seekers to assess accessibility needsCompleted a service provider survey Submitted request for Building Code revisionPublished report on regulations and policies and how VisitAble

housing fits with building requirementsHosted follow up session with planners and builders – Nov-15Presentations to municipal councils to enable VH to be built Organized community forum and workshop on March 23-16

Personal Testimonials

How would our lives or those close to us benefit if we lived in a visit-able home?

How would our community benefit?

Accessibility Assessment Tools Understanding Accessibility Features to Meet

Housing Needs: A Guide for Real Estate Professionals and Home Seekers, February 2015

What is VisitAble Housing? Realtor Workshops March and June 2015

Looking for a new home? Assess Your Accessibility Needs, February 2015.

Regulatory & Technical Research• October 2014 Planners, Building Officials;

Builders and Developers Information session

• November 2015 Follow up session to address questions raised in October 2014

• Published report: Building VisitAble Housing in Waterloo : Region: Regulatory & Technical Analysis Report, March 2016

• February-March 2016 presentations to municipal councils – strengthen policies to encourage and consider ways to enable building of VisitAble homes.

Task Force Next StepsCompile a record of today’s presentations – post on websiteKeep this topic alive at the Disabilities and Human Rights

GroupAs resources allow:

Respond to requests for workshops and information sessionsEncourage local municipalities to recognize visit-able housing as a basic

standard for accessibility and enable these homes to be built Create technical guidelines to assist builders Provide incentives to builders Ensure affordable housing is visit-able as a requirement of funding

Encourage the Government of Ontario to strengthen VH as a basic standard for accessibility in the Building Code and for affordable housing

Compile an inventory of local and Ontario examples of visit-able homes to be used as a guide

Panel PresentationsAllen Mankewich, Canadian Centre on Disability StudiesJamie Shipley, Canadian Mortgage and Housing

CorporationCharlotte

Tanja Curic, City of Waterloo PlannerRick Martin,

Trudy Beaulne, Social Development Centre/Local VisitAble Housing Task Force

Q&A

Morning Wrap Up and Preparing for the AfternoonThank you panel members – each will have a small gift to show

our appreciationThose who are not staying for the afternoon please complete and

hand in your evaluation formThank you for attending this morning

Those staying for the afternoon workshop, here are the question for the stakeholder group discussion:

As a member of your respective stakeholder group, what can you do as an individual, or as part of your organization to ensure visit-able housing is built in your local community?

What will help you to be more successful? What would you need from other stakeholders or stakeholder groups?

We encourage you to mingle over lunchWe will start back at 1:00 pm

Thank YouFor more information about the local VisitAble Housing work:

Trudy Beaulne, Executive Director, Social Development Centre Waterloo Region

Email: trudy@waterlooregion.orgPhone: 519-579-1096 X *3006

www.waterlooregion.org/visitable