An official website of the Accessible housing
Historically, the need for accessible housing was often considered through the context of the needs of an aging population, including for increased mobility assistance and support. However, accessible housing must consider people of all ages and all ability levels to provide necessary accommodations to carry out daily care tasks, work, and live a stable, healthy, independent life. Minnesota has a unique approach with its coordinated state Olmstead Plan, which aims to ensure that disabled Minnesotans live full lives of inclusion and integration in their chosen communities.53 Allowing all disabled residents in our region to choose where to live necessitates the development of truly accessible housing, and modifications to our existing building stock to make it possible for residents to have a choice.
"Why does it cost more to make things more accessible for everyone. Putting in an accessible ramp can be $13,000. In certain counties there are grant programs, but there is too long a waitlist."
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Within the region, there are approximately 380,394 residents living with disability, accounting for nearly 10.4% of the regional population. Additionally, more than 40% of the region’s residents aged 75 or older that are not receiving institutionalized care have trouble with vision, hearing, mobility, personal care, or daily tasks.55
These residents may require housing that is accessible or provides specialized services. Currently there are units in the region that meet accessibility requirements but not enough to meet the need in the region. New housing developments are required to provide a minimum number of units to meet state accessibility requirements, but these units are not always prioritized for occupation by a resident living with a disability.
State guidelines set minimum accessibility requirements for accessible housing units. However, the requirements are often not enough to meet the needs of residents. There have been increasing efforts to expand or go beyond the state minimum requirements through policy and program updates. For example, as of 2023, housing built using Minnesota State Housing Infrastructure Bonds must meet detailed accessibility requirements, which include both physical and sensory accessibility features.
Accessibility modifications are necessary features for many households with disabilities. These modifications can be expensive and burdensome to retrofit a housing unit after development, particularly when being left to individual households to complete and constructing new units to meet required standards often increases construction costs. Utilizing design strategies that incorporate accessibility more universally and without significant structural changes when constructing new units can mitigate any potential cost increases. Continued commitment to expanding upon these efforts to go beyond the minimum state requirements for both accessibility features and the number of dedicated accessible units must be a priority in the development of all new housing.
The current accessibility needs of the region’s residents, compounded with increasing needs as the region’s population ages, mean we must expand the supply of housing options accessible to people with disabilities. These options must go beyond the current requirements and encourage the use of Universal Design. Universal design goes beyond state minimum accessibility standards and holistically incorporates livable, comfortable, resilient standards in design. It results in spaces that are welcoming to people of all abilities and ages, including people with mental illness, physical, intellectual, developmental, hearing, and visual disabilities.
All residents should be able to not only access housing, but housing with proximity and access to their unique needs. This includes access to health care, education, employment, transportation, parks and nature. Universal design is not only imperative to residential design, but also to public and recreational areas, prioritizing accessibility to all residents regardless of ability. Promoting housing development with universal access features ensures that people with disabilities have greater opportunities for housing choice and removes barriers often caused by the built environment.
"I need somewhere where there is 24-hour support available, but I also want to be as independent as possible."
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Obtaining housing that meets residents’ needs that is also affordable is a crucial issue for people with disabilities, as 43.4% of people with disability experience housing cost-burden.57 Households with disabilities may have no or low incomes or are limited by a fixed income due to the need to qualify for programming and support services to meet needs and accommodations. The challenges to secure and maintain safe affordable housing when living with a disability are evident with a high proportion of adults experiencing homelessness in the region that have a disability. Most recently, an estimated 49% of the region’s homeless population reported having a physical health condition in the last year.58
"Fast track housing vouchers for 24-hour care and have two-bedroom apartments so that the caregiver can be there."
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Project-based vouchers and other subsidized housing programs may prioritize units targeted to assist low-income households with disabilities, but the need for accessible units stretches far beyond the current supply of these programs. The location of accessible units is important, with many residents needing to live in areas with access to transit. However, in many transit-accessible neighborhoods, lower-density (1-4 unit) neighborhood development styles and land use guidance do not easily accommodate accessibility features, whereas single-family home styles that are more accessible tend to be located in areas with less transit access. Residents with disabilities – regardless of income, age, and household size – should be able to live in a home that is a safe and healthy environment and provides access to the services and accommodations for their needs, in communities throughout our region.
53. Minnesota Olmstead Implementation Office. About the Minnesota Olmstead Plan. https://mn.gov/olmstead/mn-olmstead-plan/about/
54. Metropolitan Council. (2024). Quote from an engagement participant of the Metropolitan Center for Independent Living group, Aug. 23, 2023. https://metrocouncil.org/Housing/Planning/2050-Housing-Policy-Plan/HPP-2050-Engagement.aspx
55. U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS). 5-Year Estimates. 2023. 15-county MSA. In this dataset, disability is defined as a respondent reporting any of the following: hearing difficulty, vision difficulty, cognitive difficulty, ambulatory difficulty, self-care difficulty, or independent living difficulty. Cognitive, ambulatory and self-care difficulty only consider people over age 5.
56. Metropolitan Council. (2024). Quote from an engagement participant of The Arc Minnesota group – June 28, 2023. https://metrocouncil.org/Housing/Planning/2050-Housing-Policy-Plan/HPP-2050-Engagement.aspx
57. U.S. Census Bureau, American Housing Survey (AHS). 2021. 7-county region. Disabilities – All Occupied Units
58. Wilder Research. (June 2024). Minnesota homeless study issue brief. https://www.wilder.org/sites/default/files/2023Homeless_TwinCities-GreaterMN_Brief1_6-24.pdf
59. Metropolitan Council. (2024). Quote from a participant of The Arc Minnesota group – June 28, 2023. https://metrocouncil.org/Housing/Planning/2050-Housing-Policy-Plan/HPP-2050-Engagement.aspx
