Accessible Alabama has prepared overviews of current research and best practices related to issues of accessible housing, community living, and other topics of importance. View them here.
Barriers to Home Purchasing
Accessible Alabama continues its commitment to exploring barriers and facilitators to increasing livable housing options for individuals with disabilities. Since our inception, we have encountered tremendous resistance from housing providers to incorporate concepts of universal design into both new construction and modification of the existing housing stock. Consider this real-life example where a family that needs renovations to make their home livable for a family member with a disability finds barriers to doing so based on current policy.
Technology for Independent Living
This issue brief summarizes the key tenants of universal design theory and examines how newly available home automation technology is increasing residential independence for some individuals with significant physical limitations. To ensure access for individuals with complex physical limitations, customization beyond the capabilities of most available retail systems is still required.
Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Option
In September 2000, HUD issued a rule for voucher homeownership programs (VHOs), which authorized Public Housing Authorities to allow low-income households receiving rental vouchers to apply their vouchers toward home ownership. Between 2000 and 2005, HUD commissioned a study to assess the efficacy of the Housing Choice Voucher Homeownership Option (HCVHO) program nationally. The study considered a number of relevant questions, which we review here.