1. Safety - Is it Safe?

Home must provide physical, emotional, and personal safety.

For adults with developmental disabilities, safety means protection from exploitation, housing insecurity, neglect, and environments that increase vulnerability. Home should be a place of security, trust, and peace — where people can live with confidence and dignity.

2. Appropriate - Is it a Real Home?

Housing should feel like home — not like an institution, temporary solution or a last resort.

It should not be a shelter, transitional housing, or a nursing home. Adults with developmental disabilities deserve homes that reflect privacy, dignity, choice, and belonging. With real authority over their housing decisions, including where they live, who they live with, and what supports they receive. The kind of home anyone would choose for themselves.

3. Accessible - Can I Live Here Independently?

Housing must support independence through thoughtful design.

This includes accessible physical spaces, adaptable layouts, and assistive technologies that help individuals navigate daily life with greater independence and confidence. Good housing should allow people to age in place as their needs evolve.

4. Affordable - Can I Afford to Live Here?

Housing must be financially realistic and within reach.

Many adults with disabilities live on fixed or limited incomes. Housing should not create impossible choices between rent, food, transportation, and support. Affordability is essential to maintaining long-term housing security.

5. Stable - Can I Count on it Long-Term?

Housing should provide permanence and predictability.

People need homes they can rely on — not temporary placements or crisis-driven arrangements. Stability creates the foundation for routine, wellbeing, and long-term independence.

6. Supported - Will I Have the Support I Need?

Independent living does not mean unsupported living.

A home is only successful when the right supports are in place.

Support must be individualized, flexible, and responsive to each person’s unique needs, goals, and strengths. This may include daily living supports, personal care, behavioural supports, community participation, relationship-building, and crisis prevention.

Strong partnerships between families, service providers, community organizations, and informal networks help create the conditions for people to live independently and thrive.

7. Inclusive - Will I Belong Here?

Housing should create connection, not isolation.

True inclusion means being part of a neighbourhood, connected to people, services, recreation, transportation, and meaningful opportunities. Home should be part of community life — where people feel welcomed, valued, and included.

8. Sustainable - Will it Last Beyond Today?

Housing solutions must endure beyond the caregiving capacity of families.

Sustainability means creating long-term models that are financially viable, community-supported, and built to last. Housing should not depend solely on aging parents or crisis intervention — it should become a lasting community asset that supports future generations.