Help For The Handicapped Renter
Looking for a place to live when you suffer from any type of
physical disability can be incredibly frustrating. Not only must
you go through all the typical stresses of finding a safe,
comfortable home with an aesthetically pleasing environment, but
you must also look for handicap accessibilty. If you're looking
on your own, the search can be long and difficult.
Marcy* was diagnosed with Tourettes syndrome at the age of
sixteen. Due to this disease, she is unable to work and thus is
forced to depend on the government for money. "Do you know how
much the states give us to live on each month?" her friend Joan*
asks, "It's not even poverty level." Due to a lack of funding,
Marcy had to move back home. "It makes me feel like I'll never
be able to have my own place," she says, "I'll always depend on
someone... and that's not my idea of fun."
Joan also suffers from a disability which prevents her from
working. Due to a rare neuro-muscular disease called
Kearns-Sayre syndrome, she will soon be wheelchair-bound. "When
people buy or rent places they don't have to think about two
years down the road. I have to. I know I have to be on the
ground level. No stairs. Inside there must be lower counters.
The bathrooms must be accessible. There have to be ramps."
Looking for somewhere meeting all of those requirements which
also fit into her budget was difficult. "It made me feel
alienated."
The California State Independent Living Council (SILC) recently
conducted a study on the impact of housing availability,
accessibility, and affordability on people with disabilities.
According to the study, "More than any other population group,
people with disabilities are more likely to experience acute
housing problems: problems of stigma and discrimination,
affordability, and access to safe and decent housing."
The study found that 21.0% of the population of people with
disabilities (PWD) are unable to work. For those that are able
to find a fitting job, the per capita income among PWD is only
59.7% of that of the general population. These people are forced
to find housing that will fit their budget, while fitting their
accessibility needs.
In order to help the disabled in the frustrating - and sometimes
unsucessful attempts at finding a fitting place to live, the
National Accessible Apartment Clearinghouse(NAAC) provides them
with a free service. NAAC is represented in over 43 States and
over 155 major metropolitan areas nation-wide.
"Our Staff searches the accessible apartment database of over
46,000 specially designed apartments based on residents needs
and desired locations. Prospective residents will then receive a
listing of all the accessible apartments in their geographical
area of choice. The listings include the accessible features of
each apartment community and individual apartment home."
NAAC maintains the only national database of accessible
apartments. Since NAAC is a non-profit organization, and all
services provided are free, you needn't worry about losing any
money. You can contact the NAAC by calling 1-800-421-1221 or
emailing them at: clearinghouse@naahq.com.
*names have been changed