The Fight for Affordable and Accessible Housing for All
Ask students: Who is Jensen Caraballo and what is his living situation like? Why is it difficult for people with disabilities to find affordable and accessible housing?
Summary
Millions of Americans are priced out of homes and apartments. For people with disabilities, finding an accessible place they can afford can be even more challenging. Judy Woodruff reports on the affordable housing shortage for our series, Disability Reframed.
View the transcript of the story.
Key terms
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) — provides monthly payments to people with disabilities and older adults who have little or no income or resources
Fair Housing Act (FHA) — protects people from discrimination when buying, renting or financing housing
Warm-Up Questions
- Who is Jensen Caraballo and what is his living situation like?
- Where did Caraballo end up having to live as a teenager?
- Why is it difficult for people with disabilities to find affordable and accessible housing?
- How does the Kelsey Aire Station provide people with disabilities a more accesible place to live?
- What is the biggest challenge to expanding the Kelsey housing model to other locations?
Focus Questions
What are the benefits of mixed-ability and mixed-income housing like the Kelsey for people with disabilities?
Media literacy: Can you think of spaces in your town in which people with disabilities might have trouble doing everyday tasks?
What Students Can Do
Learn more about discrimination in housing by reading about the Fair Housing Act here.
- Who is protected under the Fair Housing Act? What are the different types of discrimination that people can face?
- Do you think the Fair Housing Act does enough to prevent discrimination in housing? What might further legislation look like to make sure that landlords and real estate companies are providing accessible housing?
Written by Gianfranco Beran, PBS News Hour Classroom's production assistant, and Classroom's director, Victoria Pasquantonio.
Republished with permission from PBS NewsHour Classroom.
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