Accessible and Affordable Housing Working Group

The Accessible and Affordable Housing Working Group was created to function as a catalyst for change, to educate, and to strategize on how our Calgary communities can best address the needs for adequate, appropriate, accessible and affordable housing. The working group is a diverse mix of people that includes individuals with lived experience; professionals involved in civic, social service and housing issues; representatives from the private sector; and people from the community at large – all dedicated to the expansion of affordable and accessible housing in our Calgary communities.

Our plan and related mandate is to strategize for housing policy adjustments and change; to focus on communication with construction-industry professionals on accessibility; and to encourage research, community development and fund development in progressive/creative accessible housing outcomes in Calgary.

Fully accessible as well as affordable housing to include people with disabilities in our communities, and to provide for an equitable/dignified future are crucial for the growth and sustainability of our Calgary populations. People with disabilities, like all population sectors, require choices in housing such as owning or renting a single-family home or a condominium, living in an apartment, living in group environments with peers or living with family. What is key, however, is such environments are designed in an accessible and appropriate manner, while maintaining affordability for the resident with a disability.