housing.
adapting homes.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR PLACE EVEN BETTER
At some point in our lives, many of us may have the choice of whether and how to renovate and modify our homes to accommodate our current or anticipated functional needs. We sometimes call this the “Move or Improve” decision. We have to decide how much we are willing and able to pay and how accommodating our home will be at the end. The resources here will help you decide what to do.
These resources will also help you figure out if you might be better off looking for a home that might be easier to modify than the home that you are living in right now. You may find that sometimes, even if you spend a lot of money, the result in your current home won’t really meet your needs.
-
Can you get the key functions areas (usable kitchen, full bathroom, laundry, and bedroom) on a reachable level?
-
Will you need an addition, or an elevator?
-
Can you get into the house with an elegant graded entry or do you have to put up with a ramp or lift?
design competitions.
EDUCATING COMMUNITIES
We are pleased to note the publication of our book with AARP, Housing Design Competition Tool Kit. We think that there is a lot of value in conducting local design competitions. We know that there is confusion about universal home design and how it relates to age friendly design. We have seen how design competitions can be used to educate communities and raise awareness. They can inspire needed policy change. And design competitions can help communities create the housing we need.
Having managed numerous universal design competitions around the country, UDI can assist local stakeholders plan and execute an effective and impactful competition program.
design ordinance.
CREATING MORE UNIVERSAL AND AGE FRIENDLY HOMES
The Institute can assist state and local governments create or modify state legislation and local ordinances to incent or mandate universal and age-friendly housing. The planned targets for these new statutes are housing sectors that currently see too little age-friendly dwelling production. Included are portions of the Missing Middle Housing sector such as one- to three-family homes and accessory dwellings, especially if part of cluster or pocket neighborhood projects. Because of the vulnerable nature of the residents, there are also opportunities in affordable (subsidized with government or private sector funds to lower the resident costs) one- to three-family and multifamily residences. Market rate multifamily homes, in spite of falling under the design requirements of both state building codes and the 1988 Fair Housing Amendments Act, still have too few units within which older adults can safely age in place. A nudge or push from state or local jurisdictions could make these housing sectors do more to meet the needs of current and future older adult populations.*
*Adapted from our new guide - AARP HomeFit® Model Ordinance: Local and State Legislative Guide to Universal Design in Housing
contact us.
Whether you have questions or need assistance, our team is here to help. Get in touch through any of the channels below. We’re eager to hear from you!
Got questions? Find the answers here.