LIHTC developments endeavor to provide safe and supportive environments for all residents, including those with support needs, through resident services, proactive safety measures, and adherence to federal fair housing guidelines. All residents, regardless of background, deserve a safe, affordable, inclusive home. By upholding fair housing principles, LIHTC developments contribute to diverse and inclusive communities, prioritizing resident safety and community diversity as fundamental commitments. Developers of LIHTC projects do not need to choose between LIHTC funding and resident safety - this article will show you how both can be achieved with proper planning.

A leasing agreement is a legal document that explains the rules for living in a housing community.

Community Guidelines, or "House Rules," help everyone understand what to expect when living in the community.

This document explains how residents can share complaints, concerns, or disputes in the community.

This document explains a housing provider’s promise to make changes or accommodations to an apartment when a tenant asks for them.

Whether a developer has an existing affordable housing project or is conceptualizing their next, designing a resident-centered experience that considers the whole person is becoming increasingly important. At The Kelsey, we believe developers excel at this by: Supplementing their designs with disability-forward practices; Infusing the resident experience with inclusive services; and Consistently creating partnerships with each person who walks through the front door. To further these goals, this article demonstrates how developers and affordable housing operators can better understand Home and Community Based Services (HCBS), which undoubtedly cultivates a well-rounded, supportive, and affirmative experience for every resident in the place they call home.

The Kelsey convenes the “Inclusive Houser Network,” an industry group of organizations developing or operating inclusive housing throughout the United States. This group currently includes sixteen organizations, one of which is Main Street, based in Rockville, Maryland. Main Street had been a longtime partner and collaborator with The Kelsey, including co-hosting the Building Inclusivity convening in 2021. Main Street opened their doors in August of 2020. In addition to their beautiful, bright and modern apartments, they launched a membership-based community in their vibrant 10,000 sq. ft. community space at the base of the building, open to those with and without disabilities, including residents and non-residents who join as members. Main Street offers up to 20+ weekly virtual and in-person programs delivered by a diverse array of community partners and centered around culture, movement, wellness, art, food and social opportunities. Programs are for everyone (residents and community members) to come as they are and choose how they participate, learn and connect. This guest author piece from Jillian Copeland, Main Street Founder, shares what meaningful programming looks like, lessons learned from resident experiences and how to support community-driven input and leadership.

Building a strong support and services delivery system within affordable and mixed income housing communities fosters inclusion and improves housing retention for both disabled and non-disabled residents, but the process can be challenging to conceptualize and fund. Reviewing key elements of The Kelsey’s approach to solving this problem through the Inclusion Concierge model can help you navigate the creation of your own supportive, inclusive housing community.

Where someone lives impacts their ability to stay healthy and receive supports. As housing advocates, developers, and policymakers it’s important to understand the basics of housing-related services and how housing impacts health, especially when advocating for and developing housing for people with disabilities.