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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: [email protected]
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