A place to call home, one that is truly safe and reliable, is the foundation of well-being. But, housing instability ripples out into every part of one’s life, from physical and mental health to financial growth.
For people with developmental disabilities (DD), living independently can be the first step to a life of dignity and fulfillment. But, unfortunately the barriers to achieving stable housing can seem almost insurmountable when you have a DD. As a population that is already disproportionately low-income, the lack of affordable housing is just the start. Many options are not accessible and the path to housing support can be really confusing.
Housing Challenges and People with Developmental Disabilities explores four perspectives in the largely untold story of the ongoing housing crisis in the United States, shedding light on the unique issues faced by individuals with developmental disabilities and their advice on how to make meaningful change.
This video series was created by our friends at THINK+change, a social enterprise of arc of Aurora, and made possible through support from PASCO, arc Thrift Stores, Developmental Pathways, the Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, Colorado Developmental Disabilities Council, and Colorado Access.
A Lived Experience Perspective – Struggling to Find Housing: Bob Rhodes, who identifies as a person with autism, other developmental disabilities, and bipolar disorder, offers his perspective into the ongoing challenges he faces locating and securing safe and affordable housing.
Visit the THINK+change site to explore the stories of three other perspectives on housing challenges:
- A community safety perspective: Courtney Tassin, MA, LPC, Crisis Intervention Program Manager in the Housing and Community Services division of the Aurora Police Department at the City of Aurora
- A legal perspective: Erica Voisine, Communications and Outreach Manager at Disability Law Colorado and a mother to a child with autism
- A lived experience perspective from someone who found housing: Ron Hutter, who self-identifies as a person with a developmental disability
Thank you THINK+change for this amazing series!
