The CCDS VisitAbility Project

VisitAble Housing: From Concept to RealityMarch 23, 2016

Allen MankewichCanadian Centre on Disability Studies

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Canadian Centre on Disability Studies (CCDS)• Re-envisioning community through collaborative research, education and

development on cross-disability issues, inclusive of mental health.

• Guided by, and works out of, the values of inclusion, equity and participation.

• Partnerships with the disability community, corporate sector, academia and government.

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Acknowledgement of Funders:CCDS’ VisitAbility Project

Government of Canada's Social Development Partnerships Program — Disability Component

Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation

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VisitAbility Project• 3 year national initiative (May 2013 – March 2016)• Goal: To promote visitable housing in Canada• Key Activities:

Research (literature review, environmental scan, Bridgwater case study, etc.)

Resource list Visitability Awards of Excellence Online campaign Development information/promotional materials

• Six task forces across Canada: Two First Nations on Vancouver Island Richmond Edmonton Winnipeg Ottawa Kitchener-Waterloo 4

Concept of VisitAble Housing

• Visit+Able

• Three basic accessibility features:1. No step entrance

2. Wider doorways and hallways

3. A main floor washroom that can be accessed by visitors who use mobility devices

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Advantages

• Facilitates social inclusion.• Easy access for everyone. • Good option for:

people with mobility issues those with young children in strollers, those carrying groceries, large items,

furniture, or equipment.• Aging in place. • Reduced risks of fall or injuries.

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PerspectivesMarket Demand?• Common Perception: The market is not demanding it.

•Visitability Advocates: Consumers are not aware of the concept..

Regulation?•Common Perception: Homes are a private domain and shouldn’t be subject to regulation.

•Visitability Advocates: Homes are built based on various laws, building codes, and by-laws which regulate detailed conditions (e.g. smoke detectors).

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PerspectivesCosts?

•Common Perception: VisitAbility increases construction costs, making homes less affordable.

•Visitability Advocates: Additional costs are minimal when planned during the design phase.

•Factors to costs:

Topography, design for no-step entrance, basement design, compensation for reduced living spaces

Site Constraints?

•Common Perception: Many sites have major constraints to make the zero-step entry.

•Visitability Advocates: Only a small portion of sites have constraints that prevent a zero-step entry.

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Policies in VisitAble Housing in Canada

2014 Building By-Law, Vancouver, British Columbia• Applies to all newly built homes, including condos and apartments• Wider doors and hallways.• Main floor bathroom that allows for independent use by a person using

a wheelchair.

Accessibility Design Standards and Visitable Housing Guidelines, Winnipeg, Manitoba

• Winnipeg’s 2010 Accessibility Design Standards defines visitable housing.

• The Manitoba Housing and Renewal Corporation provided visitable housing guidelines that builders must follow in Bridgwater.

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Best Practice in Canada - Bridgwater Project

A housing development project initiated by Province of Manitoba.

The first neighbourhood plan in Canada that includes a large proportion of housing to be built as visitable.

Approximately 1,200 single-family homes will be built with visitable features in three neighbourhoods in Bridgwater.

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Case Study Methods and Participants• Document review

• Individual interviews Intended to examine perceptions and experience about visitable housing

among stakeholders involved in the project. 21 participants (6 homeowners/residents, 3 policy makers, 3 building

and development consultants, 6 homebuilders, and 3 home salespersons).

• Residents’ Survey

• 40 residents participated in the survey.

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Findings on Bridgwater Project• Fastest selling neighbourhood in Winnipeg.

• Visitable housing is marketable and has a marketing value.

• The most positive feedback came from the residents in the neighbourhood.

• Building professionals noted that their perception of visitable housing had changed from skeptical or resistant to positive.

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Findings on Bridgwater Project• Negative Feedback:

Additional costs

construction issues

restrictions on basements (e.g. basement height and windows)

reduced living space

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BC First Nations Task Force

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• Redrafted housing policies.

• Resolution passed at 2015 BC First Nations Summit.

• Resolution passed at the 2015 Assembly of First Nations Annual General Assembly.

• The BC First Nations Task Force will continue to work with First Nations across Canada to promote visitable housing.

Richmond Task Force• Website

• Public presentations

• Visitable housing promoted through the Real Estate Magazine and the Greater Vancouver Home Builders’ Association.

• Experts on visitable housing, housing options and accessible renovations presented to the task force.

• VisitAbility brochure was mailed out to over 800 accessible parking permit holders in 2015.

• Survey with renovators.

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Edmonton Task Force• Dinner dialogue

• Support letter campaign

• Public presentations

• Development of contact list

• Presented to City Hall and administrative staff

• Blatchford Townhouse visitability feasibility report

• University of Alberta student involvement

• Home for Life report and partnership

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Winnipeg Task Force• Developed guidelines and standards document.

• Worked with student groups on awards programs.

• Conference outreach.

• Realtor education seminar.

• Promotional material created and disseminated.

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Kitchener-Waterloo Task Force• Creating information packages for different stakeholder groups (policy

makers, housing professionals, and consumers).

• Conducting research on visitable housing.

• Making an inventory of local examples of visitable housing.

• Presenting to housing industry and political leaders.

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Ottawa Task Force• Worked with City of Ottawa’s Affordable Housing Unit.

• The City of Ottawa 2015 Accessibility Design Standards.

• Outreach to surrounding municipalities.

• Visitable townhouse competition.

• Trade show and media opportunities

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Lessons, Strategies, and Recommendations

• Take a multi-faceted approach – reach out to all stakeholders.

• Consider both mandatory requirements and incentives.

• Look for opportunities where visitability can be incorporated over the short term, while developing wide-scale visitability.

• Market visitability as an option for everyone.

• Further work is required to promote the concept. This project was too short to gain much traction.

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For More InformationPlease visit:

http://VisitAbleHousingCanada.com

or

Canadian Centre on Disability Studies10-226 Osborne Street North

Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3C 1V4204-287-8411

Email: visitability@disabilitystudies.ca

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