Why Climate Change is Making It Even Harder for People with Disabilities to Find Accessible Housing

Have you ever wondered how climate change is impacting housing and people with disabilities? In this episode, Alex Ghenis discusses the impacts of climate change on housing for people with disabilities, particularly the challenges of providing a stable and accessible place to live. He stresses the importance of building housing in the right places and how inclusive housing is environmentally friendly. Alex offers advice on researching potential housing options and discloses ways in which the government can improve policies and procedures to ensure that accessible housing is created more sustainably. Let's dig into it!

Alex Ghenis is the Deputy Director of Sustain Our Abilities and has been with SOA since Summer 2022. Mr. Ghenis is a nationally recognized expert on the impact of climate change on people with disabilities and has been crucial in raising awareness about climate justice for the disability community. In 2014, Mr. Ghenis started the New Earth Disability initiative at the World Institute on Disability to expand research on, and raise awareness about, climate justice for the disability community.

Key Highlights:

[00:01 - 07:15] Opening Segment

Alex introduces Sustain Our Abilities Focusing on the intersection of climate change and disability The two pillars of climate change that Sustain Our Abilities cares about Mitigation (reducing carbon emissions) and adaptation (getting ready for climate change) Why people with disabilities are more likely to be negatively impacted by the effects of climate change

[07:16 - 14:02] The Risks in a Changing Climate

The impacts of climate change on housing The increased risk of fires and displacement of homeowners due to coastal flooding The importance of building resilient housing that can withstand changing weather patterns The need for transit-oriented development in high-risk areas

[14:03 - 21:12] The Transit Oriented Development

Transit-oriented development is a great way to reduce carbon emissions and improve accessibility Why inclusive housing is environmentally friendly It reduces the need for cars and reduces carbon emissions How technology can help make inclusive housing more accessible and desirable

[21:13 - 27:54] Disability Advocates Urge National Action to Address Climate Change

The impact of climate change on the housing market is a major issue for people with disabilities People with disabilities should be thinking about their health and safety when looking for housing

The cost and accessibility

There are many ways to make a dent in climate change

[27:55 - 29:30] Closing Segment

Housing is a key part of reducing climate change and is especially important for people with disabilities

Want to connect with Alex? Follow him on LinkedIn. Visit Sustain Our Abilities, expanding climate justice for people with disabilities through research! 

Key Quotes:

"Building it in the right places um can be a great part of climate mitigation." - Alex Ghenis

"it really is more about getting the checklist of what you think is safest, what you can afford, and what will be close to the support networks that you need." - Alex Ghenis

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