The Kelsey is an organization that focuses its efforts on disability-forward housing initiatives, and recently, it launched a comprehensive advocacy resource aimed at improving accessibility standards in affordable housing developments funded through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.

The Kelsey’s guide outlines strategies for influencing Qualified Allocation Plans, which are the documents that determine how states award these crucial housing tax credits. The aim is to advocate for the prioritization of disability-forward housing design beyond basic legal requirements.

Unlike other federally subsidized housing, the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program properties currently operate without mandated accessibility standards equivalent to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, which creates significant gaps in available housing for people with disabilities. The Kelsey addresses this by proposing universal design principles, affordability, and community integration as core components rather than afterthoughts.

Image Credit: The Kelsey