Inclusive Home Design Act of 2003

To require all newly constructed, federally assisted, single-family houses and town houses to meet minimum standards of visitability for persons with disabilities.

Dear Fellow Fighter for Housing Justice: I am writing to request your support for HR 2353, The Inclusive Home Design Act (enclosed). This bill will mandate visitability access features into federally assisted housing not covered by existing accessibility requirements. This bill was introduced into the US House of Representatives by Representative Jan Shakowsky (D-IL), and drafted in collaboration with Access Living and the Disability Rights Action Coalition for Housing (DRACH). We need your help in advocating for Congressional support for this bill. An important part of our strategy is demonstrating broad based support from the disability community. To do this we request that you send a written statement of support on behalf of your organization to Access Living, care of Darrell Price, Access Living, Housing Policy Coordinator, 614 W. Roosevelt Rd. Chicago, IL 60607. Please address the letter to the attention of the Honorable Jan Shakowsky but mail it to the Access Living address.

Another part of this strategy is making direct contact with our federal representatives to request their co-sponsorship of this bill. We ask that you contact the federal Representative in your area, and keep us informed of their position on the bill. The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity as well as the House Veterans Affairs Committee, Subcommittee on Benefits. We ask that you also contact these subcommittee members for their support and co-sponsorship. Please refer to the enclosed list of subcommittee members for contact information.

Thank you for your attention. We look forward to continuing our work with you toward passage of this legislation. If you have any questions please call me at 312 253 7000 x 194 or email me at darrell@accessliving.org. Also, we have a list of local contacts around the country (also attached). You may also contact them with questions.

Also, DRACH has a new website with all materials about this bill and we have set up a list serve to keep everyone updated by email. To join, please email DPrice@accessliving.org and then respond to the invitation we will send you.

Many of us have successfully advocated to create visitable housing in our local communities. This clearly shows that the time is ripe for a federal mandate to ensure construction of housing that is usable for all and to ensure true integration of people with disabilities into all aspects of our community. Your support of HR2353 is an important part of realizing our vision of true integration and housing for all.

Sincerely,
Ms. Marca Bristo
President and CEO

SUMMARY: 
6/5/2003--Introduced.

Inclusive Home Design Act of 2003 - Requires, with exceptions, newly constructed, federally assisted single family houses and town houses to include at least one level that complies with the following accessibility features for persons with disabilities: (1) accessible entrance; (2) accessible interior doors; (3) accessible environmental controls; and (4) accessible habitable space and an accessible bathroom.

Requires: (1) each applicant for Federal financial assistance to submit compliance assurances to the relevant Federal agency, and (2) each person who arranges for design or construction of a covered dwelling to submit architectural and construction plans for State or local approval. Prohibits Federal financial assistance to a State or local government unit unless the recipient is taking certain enforcement actions with regard to covered dwellings.

Permits: (1) private civil actions in a United States District Court or State court for violations under this Act; and (2) the Attorney General to commence civil actions or intervene in civil actions under this Act.