National ADAPT Demands U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) prioritize accessible housing for people with disabilities

Who:  National ADAPT

What:  Demonstration to demand HUD prioritize the needs of the disability community

When: Tuesday, May 10th starting at 9:30AM

Where:  HUD, 451 7th Street, S.W., Washington D.C., 20410

For More information: 

Nina Bakoyiannis   inabakoyiannis@gmail.com

Rhoda Gibson              rhodagibson2@gmail.comwww.nationaladapt.org

Washington, D.C.-  National ADAPT, the nation’s largest grassroots disability rights activist organization, is advocating for affordable, accessible, and integrated housing. This is integral to ending the institutional bias and ensuring people with disabilities have real choices for where they want to live. National ADAPT demands that HUD:

Expand affordable, accessible, integrated housing development and rent subsidy programs targeting low- and moderate-income people with disabilities, especially people who receive HCBS services.

Expand access to accessible home modifications programs to enable people to leave or avoid institutional settings thus saving millions of health care dollars.

Ensure that 811 Project Rental Assistance (PRA) funding is reserved for those transitioning out of congregate living settings to independent living.

Release the 2022-2023 811 PRA funding for people with disabilities. 

SUPPORT visitability; it means freedom for all and the ability to visit and enter ALL homes with a basic standard of accessibility.

“Those of us working at Centers for Independent Living are not able to truly help people get out of institutions if there is no proper access to accessible housing. Access isn’t only about a building having an elevator … it’s about affordability, ease of access to home modifications, and a housing system that allows disabled individuals to access these services without bureaucracy,” says Misty, an ADAPT activist. 

Without these priorities, people with disabilities will not have sufficient resources to leave institutions and/or live independently in the community. 

ADAPT activists led by Rhoda Gibson negotiate with HUD officials on the plaza in front of HUD HQ
HUD must face ADAPT in the plaza in front of their HQ. Rhoda Gibson presents demands on the site of the DUH City protests. photo: Cathy Cranston