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Disability & Housing Narrative Change Cohort 2024

An animated image of people with and without disabilities, some standing and some in wheelchairs, putting large and colorful building blocks together. The text on the image reads, “Disability & Housing Narrative Change Cohort. The Kelsey,” in black and orange writing. The Kelsey logo is visible in the lower right corner. This image is copied four times in a square grid. The images are on a graphic that makes them look like they are taped to a black, yellow, orange, and dark blue background.

The need 

1 in 4 people have a disability, yet for generations, disabled people have been explicitly left out or considered an afterthought in the US housing market. This has led to disabled people facing disproportionate barriers to accessing, affording, and securing housing. All of this is experienced most acutely by disabled people of color, people with extremely low and no income, and people who need supportive services in their homes. These barriers lead to people with disabilities experiencing the highest levels of housing discrimination, homelessness, housing instability, and rent burden. Despite this need, mainstream housing policy, development, and design often fail to include disabled people and the perspectives of people with disabilities on what an accessible and inclusive housing future looks like. 

A critical step in creating a future where all disabled people live in housing that is affordable, accessible, and inclusive is to garner more political and social will amongst government and non-governmental decision-makers. This can only happen by disabled people strategically sharing their stories of this housing crisis and the necessary solutions. Therefore, an explicit investment must be made in disabled advocates uniting and sharing their housing stories for narrative and political change. 

The program

Convened by The Kelsey and facilitated by staff with lived experience, this year-long virtual cohort will amplify housing stories and insights from disabled leaders nationwide to elevate the need for disability-forward housing solutions. These stories will dismantle the dominant narratives about disability and housing that continue to propel exclusionary, ableist policies and practices. Through meeting with narrative change experts and garnering the power of peer-to-peer support, members will receive education and training on strategic storytelling for disability-forward housing policy and press and media engagement. 

The facilitators

The members

Text on a blue background reads “Disability and Housing Narrative Change Cohort 2024.” LaTangela Foster, a dark-skinned person with long dark hair, is pictured in a polaroid-like image. Text below the image reads “LaTangela Foster, Center Point, AL.” Allen Hines, a light-skinned person with dark hair and a beard is pictured in another polaroid-like image. Text below the image reads “Allen Hines, Portland, OR.” Text in the lower left-hand corner of the image reads “The Kelsey.” The Kelsey logo is visible in the lower right-hand corner.
Text on a blue background reads “Disability & Housing Narrative Change Cohort 2024.” Judith Brown is pictured in a polaroid-like image. Text below Judith’s image reads “Judith Brown, Charlotte, NC.” She is a dark-skinned person wearing a gray t-shirt and a scarf on her head. Jensen Caraballo, a tan-skinned person with short hair, is pictured in a polaroid-like image wearing glasses and a blue shirt with white writing on it. Text below the image reads, “Jensen Caraballo, Rochester NY.” Text in the lower left-hand corner of the image reads “The Kelsey.” The Kelsey logo is visible in the lower right-hand corner.
Text on a blue background reads “Disability & Housing Narrative Change Cohort 2024.” Lisa Cooley, a dark-skinned person wearing glasses with their hair pulled back, is pictured in a polaroid-like image. Text below the image reads “Lisa Cooley, Sacramento, CA.” In another polaroid-like image, Felix Jordan is pictured. Below the picture text reads “Felix Jordan, Boston MA.” Felix is a dark-skinned person wearing jean overalls and a colorful shirt underneath. Text in the lower left-hand corner of the image reads “The Kelsey.” The Kelsey logo is visible in the lower right-hand corner.
Text on a blue background reads “Disability & Housing Narrative Change Cohort 2024.” Sam Johnson, a light-skinned person with light, curly shoulder-length hair and glasses is pictured in a polaroid-like image. Text below the image reads “Sam Johnson, Muncie, IN.” In another polaroid-like image, Sandra Conley is pictured. Sandra is a dark-skinned person with light, curly hair. Text below their image reads “Sandra Conley, Mobile, AL.” Text in the lower left-hand corner of the image reads “The Kelsey.” The Kelsey logo is visible in the lower right-hand corner.
Text on a blue background reads “Disability & Housing Narrative Change Cohort 2024.” Raul Orellana, a person smiling with a beard and dark hair wearing a black hat, is pictured in a polaroid-like image. Text below the image reads “Raul Orellana, San Francisco, CA.” In another polaroid-like image, Domonique Howell is pictured. Domonique is a dark-skinned person with long, dark locs. Text in the lower left-hand corner of the image reads “The Kelsey.” The Kelsey logo is visible in the lower right-hand corner.
Text on a blue background reads “Disability & Housing Narrative Change Cohort 2024.” Michi Marcher is pictured on a polaroid-like image. They have short red hair and are wearing glasses and a patterned top. Text in the lower left corner of the image reads “The Kelsey.” The Kelsey logo is visible in the lower right-hand corner.
Behind the Scenes