Housing

Housing

AAPD will advocate for policies to ensure people with disabilities have access to affordable accessible housing, including non-provider owned scattered site housing, and will advocate against the use of institutional or congregate “clustered” models that segregate people with disabilities from their communities.

Support AAPD's work

AAPD supports greater availability of accessible, affordable, integrated, and self-determined housing and rigorous implementation of all Fair Housing laws. As a member of the Consortium for People with Disability’s (CCD) Housing Task Force, AAPD works collaboratively with other organizations to increase access to decent, safe, and affordable housing for all people with disabilities and to protect the rights guaranteed under the Fair Housing Act. Access to transportation is also important in housing decisions. See the Transportation page for more information.

The national average rent for a modest one-bedroom rental unit was $780, equal to 104% of the national average monthly income of a one-person SSI household. This finding confirms that, in 2014, it was virtually impossible for a single adult receiving SSI to obtain decent and safe housing in the community without some type of rental assistance.
—Priced Out 2014, TAC and the CCD Housing Task Force

Legislation

There are several federal laws that address housing for people with disabilities, including the Fair Housing Act, the Rehabilitation Act and the American with Disabilities Act. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities also includes several provisions related to housing.

Fair Housing Act

Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968 (Fair Housing Act), as amended, prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of dwellings, and in other housing-related transactions, on the basis of disability, or race, color, national origin, religion, sex or familial status. The Fair Housing Act also establishes certain design and construction requirements for multifamily dwellings consisting of four or more units constructed after March 13, 1991.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination based on disability in any program or activity that receives federal funds. For recipients of federal housing (HUD) funds, this includes the requirement that in new construction and substantial alterations at least 5% of the housing units be accessible to people with mobility impairments and at least 2% of the housing units be accessible to people with vision or hearing impairments. Section 504 also requires recipients to make reasonable accommodations, including structural changes, to enable access to housing for people with disabilities.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination based on disability in any programs, services and activities of public entities, including state and local public housing and housing assistance.

Architectural Barriers Act

The Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 requires that buildings and facilities designed, constructed, altered or leased with federal funds after September 1969 be accessible by people with disabilities.

State And Local Laws

Many states have laws that address discrimination in housing. Visit the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights for more information on state fair housing laws.

Fair Housing

Federal law prohibits discrimination in housing based on disability. No one may take any of the following actions based on disability:

In the Sale and Rental of Housing:

  • Refuse to rent or sell housing
  • Refuse to negotiate for housing
  • Make housing unavailable
  • Deny a dwelling
  • Set different terms, conditions or privileges for sale or rental of a dwelling
  • Provide different housing services or facilities
  • Falsely deny that housing is available for inspection, sale, or rental
  • For profit, persuade owners to sell or rent (blockbusting)
  • Deny anyone access to or membership in a facility or service (such as a multiple listing service) related to the sale or rental of housing
  • Advertise or make any statement that indicates a limitation or preference based on disability
  • Threaten, coerce, intimidate or interfere with anyone exercising a fair housing right or assisting others who exercise that right

In Mortgage Lending:

  • Refuse to make a mortgage loan
  • Refuse to provide information regarding loans
  • Impose different terms or conditions on a loan, such as different interest rates, points, or fees
  • Discriminate in appraising property
  • Refuse to purchase a loan
  • Set different terms or conditions for purchasing a loan

For more information on fair lending, click here.

In Accommodations:

  • Refuse to allow tenants to make reasonable modifications to dwelling or common use areas, at the tenant’s expense, if necessary for a disabled person to use the housing. (Where reasonable, the landlord may permit changes only if the tenant agrees to restore the property to its original condition upon leaving.)
  • Refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices or services if necessary for the disabled person to use the housing.

Adapted from Fair Housing—It’s Your Right from HUD

Complaints

If you believe that your rights to secure housing have been violated, you may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Additional Resources

Our Sponsors

AT&T
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National Structured Settlements Trade Association
National Structured Settlements Trade Association