Visitable Housing Design

 

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Homes designed with visitable features make life simpler for all ages and abilities.

Visitable housing is the concept of designing and building homes with a basic level of accessibility. Visitable homes provide independent access for everyone, including people with limited mobility or those with disabilities.

A level entrance provides easier access to the home for all ages and abilities. People who may require the use of mobility aids such as wheelchairs, walkers or scooters, as well as seniors and families with small children, can benefit from visitable homes.

Visitable Design Features

A residence incorporating minimum visitable design features would include:

• One level, no-step entrance - minimum 36 inches (91.4 centimetres) wide - on an accessible route
• Wider doorways - minimum of 32 inches (81.3 centimetres) clear passage throughout
• A wheelchair accessible bathroom on the main floor

Manitoba Housing is encouraging the use of visitable design, as shown by several of its recent initiatives. Houses have been built under the Affordable Housing Initiative's Infill Housing Program to include these basic visitable design features. Renovations to Manitoba Housing-owned properties are now incorporating basic visitability at a minimum. Future new residential construction, funded with public contributions, will promote the use of visitable design. Manitoba Housing is promoting quality, affordable housing that includes visitable features and demonstrates that these housing designs can benefit people of all ages, including visitors with mobility restrictions.

Other inexpensive visitable design features may be added to improve the convenience and suitability of a home. These include:

• Reinforced bathroom walls (for the installation of grab bars, if desired)
• Levered door handles and single-lever kitchen and bathroom faucets
• Raised electrical outlets - 18 inches (45.7 centimetres) from the door
• Lowered climate controls
• Lowered light switches - 48 inches (121.9 centimetres) from the door

Visitable house designs that include a bedroom and a full bathroom on the main door provide an attractive housing option for a resident with disabilities.

Homes with visitable features demonstrate the first stage of universal design. Further adaptations to assist with a disability can be easily added to a visitable home, if and when the need arises.

For more information on visitability, please contact:

Manitoba Housing
203 - 280 Broadway
Winnipeg, MB R3C 0R8
Phone: 945-2663 (in Winnipeg)
Toll-free: 1-866-689-5566