Our Focus
Persons with intellectual disabilities in Canada are disproportionately experiencing homelessness, living in poverty, or in substandard housing. Inclusion Canada estimates that of the approximately 750,000 persons with intellectual disabilities in Canada, between 100,000 – 120,000 are experiencing housing and support gaps.
From a Housing First perspective, this lack of housing security underpins other gaps in peoples’ lives including access to support, services and social connection.
Knowing this, the work of the Lab focused on inclusive housing solutions that support and nurture belonging for everyone – including people with intellectual disabilities.
Guiding Principles
Learning Together
Engaging people with disabilities as co-leaders and co-learners was essential to the work of this Lab.
Persons with intellectual disabilities were co-leaders and co-learners throughout the Lab as members of:
- New Brunswick Stewardship Partners Team
- Lived Experience Advisory Committee
- Peer Researchers
- Focus Groups
Guided by the New Brunswick Stewardship Partners Team. Profiles
Resource sharing by the National Community of Practice Team. CoP Profiles
The Inclusive Housing Framework
The Lab created a framework that identifies essential components of inclusive housing.
Key elements of inclusive housing:
- Resident diversity (age, income, culture, etc.)
- Community access and participation
- Sociable (built from design)
- Affordable, stable and safe
- Neighbourly connections and mutual support
- Resident choice and control over their living space
Supportive Factors
Along with the six elements of the inclusive housing framework, the Lab noted that there are factors which enhance inclusive housing initiatives:
- Partnerships
- Scaling potential
- Local government inclusive policy/ programs
- Access to land and/or funding =
The Lab’s Roadmap: An Action Plan for Inclusive Housing
Based on the Framework, we identified five areas for action:
- Supportive government policy and programs
- Increased inclusive housing options
- Inclusive housing partnerships and movement
- Improved access to housing supports and information
- Neighbourly connections and mutual support
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