CHICAGO (March 26, 2025) – Did you know that the Caucus has a guidebook to help your residents make age-friendly and accessible home remodels?
The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus, AARP Illinois, and the Universal Design Institute partnered in 2023 to create a guidebook that provides many ideas for remodeling homes to make them more age-friendly and accessible. Based on input about community needs provided by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus’ Housing and Community Development Committee, the Accessible and Universal Home Remodeling Guidebook:
- Provides visual design examples for home entrances, kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas of homes.
- Provides helpful advice in estimating costs and selecting contractors.
- Points to more resources for continued education.
Recognizing that costs are a major barrier for many, the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and the Universal Design Institute created a complimentary Funding and Financing for Home Accessibility Modifications guide that summarizes available funding resources for households. Municipalities are encouraged to share both the guidebook and funding with residents and are welcome to post these resources on municipal websites.
Home accessibility needs are growing, and municipalities are often on the front line in response. According to the American Housing Survey, of the more than 3,500,000 homes in the Chicago metropolitan region, less than 3% have significant accessibility features such as ramps while over 11% of households include a resident who uses a mobility device such as a wheelchair, crutches, cane, or walker, amounting to a regional shortage of over 300,000 accessible homes.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the guidebook, please feel free to contact Ben Schnelle at bschnelle@mayorscaucus.org or visit the project webpage.
