About this work
Housing Through an Autism Lens was a national project that explored how housing, services, and supports could better meet the diverse needs, preferences, and goals of Autistic adults.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s National Housing Strategy (CMHC) funded the project from October 2020 to May 2022.
What did the work involve?
Housing Through an Autism Lens used a solutions lab approach to bring people with different knowledge and experiences together to understand housing experiences, identify challenges, develop ideas, and test possible solutions.
Participants across Canada:
- Shared their stories about housing experiences.
- Identified gaps and opportunities within existing housing and support systems.
- Developed and explored possible solutions.
- Tested practical ideas and resources.
- Created a roadmap to support continued action.
The project collected nearly 200 stories through an online story-gathering process.
What did we learn?
Participant stories reinforced that there is no single housing solution for Autistic adults.
Housing experiences depend on many factors, including:
- Affordability
- Accessibility
- Information and navigation
- Supports and services
- Individual preferences and goals
- Changes throughout life.
This project also highlighted the importance of involving Autistic people in decisions, services, research, and housing initiatives that affect their lives.
The stories, discussions, and ideas generated through this work helped create a stronger understanding of housing experiences in Canada, and informed future efforts to advance neuroinclusivity in housing.
Explore resources created through the Housing Through an Autism Lens project:
Building on these insights, Sinneave expanded the work through a collaboration with the Accessibility Institute to deepen learning and explore neuroinclusivity in housing more broadly.