Time & Location
Nov 03, 2025, 8:30 AM–6:00 PM PT
Disability Cultural Center
165 Grove St.
San Francisco, CA 94104
*The Disability Cultural Center is co-located on the ground floor of The Kelsey Civic Center.
Join The Kelsey and a national community of housing leaders for the first Disability-Forward Housing Futures Summit. The summit will bring together developers, advocates and policymakers who are building more inclusive, accessible, and equitable places to live.
Whether you’re leading a project or just launching your idea, the Disability-Forward Housing Futures summit will include insightful tools and strategies and connect a growing network of allies and changemakers. The day will include practical resources from field leaders, inspiring visions for our collective housing future, and strategies to build political power together.
Check back for details on speakers, sessions, and agendas!
Why We’re Convening
Across the country, housing remains out of reach for far too many—especially people with disabilities. While innovation is happening, it’s often isolated, under-resourced, or disconnected from broader systems change.
The Summit is a response to that need. It’s a space to:
- Share solutions and build on what’s working
- Amplify disability-forward models of housing development and operations
- Grow collective capacity, visibility, and power within the housing field
What To Expect
Field-Shaping Ideas
- Panels, keynotes, and fireside chats with leaders in inclusive development, public policy, disability rights, design, and finance
- Real talk on what it takes to make disability-forward housing happen—and how we scale it
Real-World Models
- Guided tours of The Kelsey Civic Center—an example of disability-forward housing in action
- Insight into design, operations, partnerships, and resident experience
Culture, Creativity, and Connection
- Artistic and cultural moments that reflect the power of inclusion
- Dedicated time to network, organize, and spark partnerships that last
There will be an optional welcome gathering on Sunday, November 2nd in the evening.
Who Should Attend
This Summit is for people turning vision into action on inclusive housing. The community of attendees and speakers will include:
- Housing developers seeking to embed new disability-forward housing strategies into their pipeline
- Advocates advancing disability justice, housing equity, or inclusive community development
- Policymakers seeking tools, partnerships, and strategies for inclusive development
- Funders and investors looking to support scalable, affordable, accessible, and inclusive housing solutions
- Individuals planning, launching, or operating disability-forward housing communities
- Disability service organizations exploring housing solutions for the people they support
- Architects and designers committed to accessible, inclusive, and human-centered housing environments
Tickets
Early Bird Registration: $400
Standard Registration: $500
Virtual: $75
*Early bird registration and scholarship applications extended to September 1, 2025.
FAQs
Will the Summit be accessible?
Yes! Accessibility is a priority. The event will include ASL interpretation and CART captioning, wheelchair-accessible facilities, and sensory-friendly options. Masks will be provided for anyone who wants them.
Where can I find the agenda?
A full agenda will be shared via email to all registrants and posted on our website.
Are there hotel blocks or recommendations?
We have a courtesy block of rooms at the Holiday Inn San Francisco – Golden Gateway by IHG at 1500 Van Ness Avenue. It is a short bus ride or walk to the summit venue. We are awaiting the hotel link for the booking code. We will email that to all registered summit attendees when that is available.
An alternative accessible hotel options is Phoenix Hotel located at 601 Eddy Street.
What are the transportation options?
The venue is accessible via public transit (both BART and Muni), parking options, and ride-share drop-offs, etc. The closest BART Station is Civic Center / UN Plaza (4 block walk) and the closest Muni train station is Van Ness (2 block walk) or the 49 Bus (½ block walk.
What is The Kelsey?
The Kelsey is a national nonprofit that advances disability-forward housing solutions that open doors to homes and opportunities for everyone. Co-led by people with and without disabilities, we both co-develop affordable, accessible, inclusive housing and lead advocacy and field-building efforts to create market conditions so inclusive housing becomes the norm. In addition to our own housing communities, we support projects, advocates, and public agencies to advance disability-forward housing solutions through technical assistance, open-source resources, and advocacy.