Housing Through an Autism Lens
Housing through an Autism lens (HAL) was a project to address the difficulties many Autistic adults face in finding and keeping the homes they want and need, especially as young adults and seniors.
The goal was to develop relevant and immediately usable pathways to secure housing options for Autistic adults that include supports, services and resources.
The project was active from October 2020 – May 2022.
The Project Team
This project was funded by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s (CMHC) National Housing Strategy. The HAL team was a group that represented the whole system around an Autistic adult and the topic of housing. This included Autistic adults, family members, service providers, housing providers, researchers, professionals and subject matter experts.
What is Solutions Lab?
A Solutions Lab is a space that enables diverse groups of people to come together to develop solutions to a problem that no one person or group could solve alone. These challenges are typically complex and systemic – and are not easy to deal with.
A Solutions Lab:
• explores a challenge from the beginning to the end
• proposes ideas or solutions
• experiments with those ideas or solutions oto see what works
• works on a people-centred problem over time.
What were the results?
The HAL project released several resources and reports. Many continue to influence the work being done today and ongoing efforts to improve housing outcomes for Autistic Canadians. Click on the below resources to read more.
The Double Cliff of Housing
This infographic explains two housing pressure points faced by Autistic adults along their life course – early adulthood and transition into seniorhood.
HAL Elements - Definitions
This 1-page document defines the eight elements of neuroinclusivity in housing. They can be used as a guide to planning for positive outcomes in housing.
Challenge Brief
A challenge brief is a narrative document that summarizes a project. This document captures the patterns and insights of housing through an autism lens.
We welcome questions and feedback. Please leave us a message in the form.