The Canadian Accessible Housing Crisis – Solutions By Design 

With mounting evidence that the current accessible housing stock in Canada will not meet the burgeoning population of aging Canadians and increasing number of people with disabilities, Canada’s accessible housing crisis is being realized. With 19% of Canadians now over 65 now and persons with disabilities already representing 1 in 5 Canadians, future projections outline the growing demand for accessible and affordable housing options, a demand that already outweighs the current available supply. Gaps in the accessible housing stock data, lack of universal language to talk about accessible housing and a myriad of design guidelines and requirements, makes it difficult for professionals designing and building homes to be sure they are creating accessible and sustainable housing solutions for the future. Participants will learn how the CSA Accessible Housing Standard (currently in development) will guide new home building and existing home modification design and construction. Learn how designers and other professionals have the opportunity to be part of the solution in mitigating our Accessible Housing Crisis in Canada and positively impact housing options for Canadians now and into the future.

BIO

With over 20 years of clinical experience and an Executive Certificate in Home Modification from the University of Southern California, Marnie is occupational therapist and international expert in home modifications and accessible housing. She sits on the Canadian Home Builders’ Home Modification Council, the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists’ Home Modification Task Force and is on the Technical Committee of the CSA’s Accessible Housing Standard. Marnie is a content contributor for both the Canadian Age Safe Senior Safety Specialist course and the Canadian Home Builder’s Associations Adaptiv Home training course. Marnie created Aging in Place Manitoba and leads the national home modification assessment and consultation division of Enabling Access Inc. to support people living with disabilities and those wanting to live in place as they age. Marnie continues to make positive local impacts and have global influence in the areas of life care planning, accessible housing, and home modifications.