Powered By Google Translate
The Arc of The Quad Cities Area
Donate
MENUMENU
  • WHO WE ARE
        • WHO WE ARE

          • Donate
          • Employment
        • About Us
        • History of The Arc
        • What is People First Languge?
        • Person Centered Practices
        • Board of Directors
        • Our Leadership
        • Publications
        • Blogs
        • Contact Us
        • DEI Statement
  • GET INVOLVED
        • GET INVOLVED

          • Donate
          • Employment
        • Volunteer
        • Make a Donation
        • Help Endow the Future
        • Donate Your Vehicle
        • Amazon Wishlist
        • Membership Application
        • Other Donation Options
        • Birdies for Charity
        • Make a Bequest
        • The Arc’s Apparel Store
  • EVENTS
        • EVENTS

          • Donate
          • Employment
        • Events for People with Disabilities
        • May of Caring
        • MLK Day of Service
        • Disability Awareness Night
        • Charity Golf Outing
        • Catalyst Awards
        • Slice of QC
        • Trivia Night
        • Spring Parent Learning Services
  • SERVICES
        • SERVICES

          • Donate
          • Employment
        • Advocacy
          • Resources for Families
          • Get Involved
          • Speak Out
          • Aktion Club
          • Resources Through The Arc of Illinois
        • Assistive Technology
        • Behavioral Health
        • Community Day Services
          • Community Suggestions
        • Community Support Programs
          • Home Based Services
          • Family and Intermittent CILA
          • Behavior Support Services
        • Residential
        • Work Services
          • Arc Industries - Day Services
          • Community Employment Services
          • Ticket to Work
        • Request Services
        • The Arc Activity Calendar
  • BUSINESS SERVICES
        • BUSINESS SERVICES

          • Donate
          • Employment
        • Arc Industries Business Capabilities
        • Secure Document Destruction
        • Custom Box Shop
        • Unique Cut Items for your Business
        • Custodial Services
  • Menu
Donate Your VehicleThe Arc Quad Cities IowaDONATEEmployment
Policy & Advocacy>>

Housing

  • OVERVIEW
  • WHY IT MATTERS
  • WHAT THE ARC IS DOING
  • HOW YOU CAN HELP

Overview

SHARE

Being part of the community and living as independently as possible are among the most important values and goals shared by people with disabilities, their families, and advocates. A home of one’s own – either rented or owned – is the cornerstone of independence for people with disabilities. However, across the U.S. people with disabilities, including people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), face a severe housing crisis.

You can learn more about The Arc’s position on housing by reading our position statement.

Portrait of a middle-aged woman wearing glasses, smiling, and standing in front of a house

Why It Matters

For people with disabilities, there are far too many barriers to housing. Without affordable, accessible housing in the community, many are at risk of institutionalization or homelessness.

Across the nation, many people with disabilities are experiencing an affordability crisis. Approximately 4.8 million non-institutionalized people with disabilities who rely on federal monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) have incomes averaging only about $9,156 per year – low enough to be priced out of every rental housing market in the nation.

Many people with I/DD live with aging caregivers (age 60 and older). As this generation of caregivers continues to age, many of their adult children with I/DD may be at risk of institutionalization or homelessness.

An accessible home offers specific features or technologies such as lowered kitchen counters and sinks, widened doorways, and wheel-in showers. For people who use mobility devices, finding housing with even basic accessibility features (e.g. an entrance with no steps) can be daunting, if not entirely impossible or unaffordable.

The availability of affordable, accessible housing remains far less than the need, leaving far too many people with I/DD institutionalized, homeless, or in “worst case” housing (paying too much in rent to afford other basics or living in severely inadequate conditions).

The Fair Housing Act prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, familial status, and national origin. Complaints by people with disabilities often make up the majority of discrimination complaints received by HUD’s Fair Housing Enforcement Office and other fair housing agencies.

Young woman in scooter playing with small dog on a grassy lawn with houses in the background
  • Sign Up for Email Updates

    Newsletters, free resources, events, advocacy, and more

What The Arc Is Doing

People with I/DD have the right to live in accessible, affordable housing in the community. The Arc advocates to protect and improve federal housing laws and regulations and to ensure adequate funding for federal housing programs that assist people with I/DD and their families.

Our Public Policy Goals
The Arc’s Public Policy Goals include many recommendations for improving access to affordable housing in the community.

Our Coalition Work
The CCD Housing Task Force, which The Arc co-chairs, works with Congress and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to increase access to decent, safe, and affordable housing for all people with disabilities and to protect the rights guaranteed under the Fair Housing Act. The Arc is also a member of the Campaign for Housing and Community Development Funding (CHCDF) and a partner in Opportunity Starts at Home.

Man putting key into lock to open white French door

Key Federal Housing Initiatives

Key programs at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that seek to increase affordable housing for people with disabilities include:

Section 811 Supportive Housing for Persons with Disabilities Program. Section 811 is the only HUD program dedicated to producing affordable, accessible housing in the community for non-elderly, very low-income people with significant disabilities.

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. HUD’s Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program helps very low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities afford rental housing in the private market. About 1 in 3 households using Section 8 vouchers are headed by a non-elderly (under age 62) person with a disability.

National Housing Trust Fund. The National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF) is a new, dedicated fund that provides grants to states to build, preserve, and rehabilitate housing for people with the lowest incomes.

LEARN MORE

How You Can Help

There are many ways to advocate with and support The Arc’s grassroots movement.

Follow a manual added link
Orange mouse pointer icon

ACT NOW

Receive updates with the latest news and ways to act.

Link to: Donation
Orange icon of hand holding a coin

DONATE

Help strengthen our policy advocacy efforts to protect critical programs.

Follow a manual added link
Orange icon of person with plus sign

FOLLOW US ONLINE

Join us on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news.

Follow a manual added link
Orange icon of open book

SHARE YOUR STORY

Share the impact of critical programs on your life.

Link to: Get Involved
Orange icon of three hands reaching up

GET INVOLVED

Find and connect with your local or state chapter of The Arc.

Link to: Resources
Orange icon of three books on bookshelf

ACCESS RESOURCES

Find more information on this topic.

Who We Are >

Donate >

Get Involved >

About Us

  • Who We Are
  • About Us
  • Our History
  • What is People First Languge?
  • Person Centered Practices
  • Board of Directors
  • Our Leadership
  • Publications
  • DEI Statement

Services

  • Services
  • Advocacy
  • Assistive Technology
  • Behavioral Health
  • Community Day Services
  • Community Support Programs
  • Residental
  • Work Services
  • Request Services
  • Get Involved
  • Get Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Staff Login
The Arc Logo
The Arc promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
Copyright © 2021 by The Arc, a 501©3 organization| Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement
The Arc of the Quad Cities Area 4016 9th Street Rock Island, IL 61201 | 309-786-6474
Scroll to top