Accessibility Gets Accessible

Every American deserves safe, decent, affordable housing, and that’s what NAHB members make every effort to provide.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development shares that goal, and both organizations agree that accessible housing for people with disabilities, as specified in the Fair Housing Act, is essential to the effort.

For years, the NAHB has urged that Fair Housing accessibility requirements be included in model building codes so builders know exactly what is required of them. So we were very pleased last year when HUD endorsed a new building code document that spelled out federal multifamily construction accessibility requirements for the first time. But having the codes in place isn’t enough; every multifamily builder needs to know where to find and how to use the codes.

That’s why HUD Secretary Mel Martinez and I recently signed a Fair Housing Accord in which the NAHB pledged to promote awareness of the multifamily accessibility requirements to builders, property owners and other housing professionals, and to promote adoption of the HUD-endorsed model codes in jurisdictions around the country. HUD will fund education and outreach efforts, develop a training curriculum and guidance plan for builders, and establish four design and construction resource centers nationwide.