HISTORY NOTE

out of reach. We don’t need luxuries like granite countertops and fitness rooms and party decks. We need countertops we can reach while seated in a wheelchair and doors our chairs and mobility devices can fit through. We need toilets of the right height, and wall space for grab bars. We people with disabilities have to consider so many other things when looking for housing. We may need a place that allows a service animal. We may need a parking space that can accommodate an accessible van. We may need cabinet and closet doors that don’t take superhuman efforts to open and close. We may need a quiet room or rooms without excess noise from neighbors.

Let’s talk about personal hygiene.

Rising interest rates and construction costs have thrown wrenches into housing production at all income levels. Rent control has largely shut down new housing production in St. Paul.

For developers putting the financial resources in place to build affordable and accessible housing can be like putting together a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle. It’s not unusual for projects to have half a dozen or more funding sources cobbled together.

We appreciate the recent use of American Rescue Plan Act dollars in some communities to provide new affordable housing and renovate existing units. But those dollars were a drop in the bucket. They also were a finite resource.

We deeply appreciate our region’s accessible and affordable housing providers, especially those who advertise in Access Press. We just need more of you, more resources for you, and more of what you provide.