SESSION 7: 3.50-5:00pm
Room LK209
Advocacy for Affordable Housing
Jan Stokley, Rebecca Byrne, Housing Choices Coalition:
About this session:
Local government officials control land use approvals and financing decisions that are key to the feasibility of developing affordable housing. Unfortunately, people with developmental disabilities do not have the degree of visibility that the homeless population enjoys, and local governments may be unaware of the specific housing need.
Increasing the amount of housing for people with developmental disabilities starts with educating City Councils, Housing Commissions, Planning Commissions, and other decision-makers that there is a tremendous deficit of housing for people with developmental disabilities.
While offering localized data on the housing needs of people with developmental disabilities is helpful, the most effective way to communicate this need is through parent and client advocacy. When parents and clients tell their housing story, local leaders are more willing to create housing opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. Parent and client advocates have successfully advocated for local government to relax density, parking and height requirements for affordable housing, so that developers can afford to include units that are truly affordable housing for people with developmental disabilities.
Parent and client advocates have also made the case for local funds (generated by development impact fees) to benefit affordable housing with units set aside for people with developmental disabilities. Housing Choices will describe this advocacy strategy with local governments.
Jan Stokley is the Executive Director of Housing Choices and Rebecca Byrne is the Housing Development Advocate at Housing Choices. She works to organize parents and bring them to relevant community meetings.
Parent panelists: Shani Kleinhaus of Palo Alto and Amy Jasper of Sunnyvale
Links:
Housing Choices Coalition
http://www.housingchoices.com/
Room LK209
Advocacy for Affordable Housing
Jan Stokley, Rebecca Byrne, Housing Choices Coalition:
About this session:
Local government officials control land use approvals and financing decisions that are key to the feasibility of developing affordable housing. Unfortunately, people with developmental disabilities do not have the degree of visibility that the homeless population enjoys, and local governments may be unaware of the specific housing need.
Increasing the amount of housing for people with developmental disabilities starts with educating City Councils, Housing Commissions, Planning Commissions, and other decision-makers that there is a tremendous deficit of housing for people with developmental disabilities.
While offering localized data on the housing needs of people with developmental disabilities is helpful, the most effective way to communicate this need is through parent and client advocacy. When parents and clients tell their housing story, local leaders are more willing to create housing opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. Parent and client advocates have successfully advocated for local government to relax density, parking and height requirements for affordable housing, so that developers can afford to include units that are truly affordable housing for people with developmental disabilities.
Parent and client advocates have also made the case for local funds (generated by development impact fees) to benefit affordable housing with units set aside for people with developmental disabilities. Housing Choices will describe this advocacy strategy with local governments.
Jan Stokley is the Executive Director of Housing Choices and Rebecca Byrne is the Housing Development Advocate at Housing Choices. She works to organize parents and bring them to relevant community meetings.
Parent panelists: Shani Kleinhaus of Palo Alto and Amy Jasper of Sunnyvale
Links:
Housing Choices Coalition
http://www.housingchoices.com/