Adaptable and Accessible Housing

Adaptable Housing requirements are modest improvements to accessibility and adaptability in residential buildings that make it easier for people to "remain in place" as they age, or experience illness or injury or simply adapt their house to the changing needs of their family.

Adaptable Housing features allow "universal design" principles, meaning that the housing can appeal to everyone. Adaptable Housing features are visually unnoticeable and allow increased flexibility in selling or renting homes. Including these features at the design stage is inexpensive and greatly reduces the cost of renovation in the future.

The District of Saanich on Vancouver Island and the City of North Vancouver are two communities that have adopted Adaptable and Accessible housing Guidelines. And with over 26% of Summerland's population over 65 why don't we?

Check out the Saanich website: http://www.gov.saanich.bc.ca Click on "business" and then on the left under "Development" is a clickable link - "Adaptable Housing".

Architect Avi Friedman has written several books (The Grow Home and The Adaptable House: Designing Homes for Change) on this topic. Both books are available at the Summerland Library.