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NAHB’s policy is in response to increasing interest by state and local communities to mandate accessibility, or visitability, features in single-family homes that are similar to accessibility requirements for multifamily housing under the federal Fair Housing law.
While visitability legislation has sprung up across the country, Smith and several advocacy groups in Atlanta have partnered with the Home Builders Association of Georgia to create a voluntary accessibility program for builders of single-family new construction.
Georgia’s voluntary program, called Easy Living, has been widely accepted by home builders in the state.
“We believe that voluntary programs work for both builders and people with disabilities, and also that coalition-building leads to a greater understanding between the building industry and accessibility advocates,” said Ed Phillips, executive director of the Home Builders Association of Georgia. “We would like to see our Easy Living Program used as a model for home builders associations across the country.”
NAHB will serve as an information resource for state and local HBAs interested in developing similar voluntary programs that promote accessibility features in the construction of new single-family homes.
For information, contact Leslie Marks, NAHB Seniors Housing Council, at 800-368-5242 x8235, or Jeffrey Inks, Construction Codes & Standards, at 800-368-5242 x8547.
BuilderBooks.com offers a variety of publications about seniors housing online. To view or purchase these publications, click here.
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