The influence of disability-related dwelling adaptations on household dwelling satisfaction

Much existing housing stock is inaccessible and does not adequately meet the needs of households with disabled members. As a result, households must often seek dwelling adaptations to improve the accessibility of their existing housing. However, adaptations can be costly, particularly in the context of limited state subsidies. This study examines the extent to which households with disabled members in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province, have access to needed dwelling adaptations and the impact of these adaptations on dwelling satisfaction. Using data from the Canadian Housing Survey, we find that close to ten percent of Ontario households need one or more disability-related dwelling adaptations, but close to half of these households do not have all the adaptations they need. Households led by older adults are more likely to have needed dwelling adaptations, as are renter households in the social housing sector. With respect to dwelling satisfaction, households with needed adaptations reported similar levels of satisfaction to households without disabled members, while households who did not have needed adaptations reported significantly lower satisfaction with their dwellings. These findings signal the importance of improving state supports for dwelling adaptations as one part of a broader commitment to inclusive housing policy.