During a recent government meeting, Alan Hines, the Housing Access Director at Community Vision and a commissioner on the Rental Services Commission, addressed critical issues surrounding housing accessibility for individuals with disabilities. Hines highlighted the pervasive challenges faced by this community, particularly in the context of the ongoing housing crisis.

He pointed out that employment discrimination and limited job opportunities have resulted in extremely low incomes for many people with disabilities. This economic disadvantage is compounded by a significant lack of accessible housing options. Hines noted that there is currently no effective system in place to identify accessible dwelling units, which exacerbates the difficulties faced by those in need.

A major concern raised by Hines was the widespread non-compliance with regulations mandating the construction of accessible units in multifamily housing. He emphasized the urgent need for the city to provide housing that is both affordable and compliant with universal federal accessibility standards (UFAS). This is particularly important given the aging population and the historical neglect of accessibility requirements.

To address these issues, Hines urged state and local governments to increase the required percentage of UFAS-compliant dwellings. He also recommended that agencies collaborate with housing providers to assess existing multifamily units for accessibility features and make this information publicly available. This approach aims to improve housing accessibility and ensure that individuals with disabilities have equitable access to suitable living conditions.