Housing is recognized globally as a fundamental human right for disabled people. Yet implementation varies dramatically across countries and regions. This page establishes the international frameworks that protect disabled people's right to housing, then explains how different legal systems translate these principles into national laws.
The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) is the primary international treaty protecting disabled people's rights. Adopted in 2006, it has been ratified by 186 countries (the United States signed but has not ratified it, though it guides domestic interpretation). CRPD establishes disabled people's right to housing within the community.
Article 19 - Living Independently and Being Included in the Community is the foundation of housing rights globally. It states:
"States Parties to this Convention recognize the equal right of all persons with disabilities to live in the community, with choices equal to others, and shall take effective and appropriate measures to facilitate full enjoyment of this right by persons with disabilities, including by:
(a) Ensuring that persons with disabilities have the opportunity to choose their place of residence and where and with whom they live on an equal basis with others and are not obliged to live in a particular living arrangement;
(b) Ensuring that persons with disabilities have access to a range of in-home, residential and other community support services, including personal assistance necessary to support living and inclusion in the community, and to prevent isolation or segregation from the community;
(c) Ensuring that community services and facilities for the general population are available on an equal basis, and are responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities."
This article establishes three core principles:
Article 9 - Accessibility requires states to ensure disabled people have access to physical environments, transportation, and information systems needed for housing. This includes accessible building design, neighborhood infrastructure, and communication access.
Article 12 - Equal Recognition Before the Law protects disabled people's right to make housing decisions, rejecting guardianship and institutionalization based on disability status.
Together, these articles establish that disabled people have the right to live independently in the community with choice and support—not in institutions, not under others' control, but as full community members.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), Article 25 establishes everyone's right to adequate housing and standard of living. While not disability-specific, it applies to disabled people.
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) requires states to recognize the right to adequate housing and to take steps to achieve this progressively. Over 170 countries are parties; enforcement mechanisms exist through the Optional Protocol.
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Goal 11 aims to ensure access to adequate housing and living conditions. SDG 11.7 specifically addresses providing access to safe, affordable, and sustainable transport systems, which connects to housing accessibility.
ILO Convention No. 159 on Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities addresses disabled people's right to employment and independent living, recognizing housing stability as prerequisite.
Regional Human Rights Instruments:
All establish that housing discrimination based on disability is prohibited and states must ensure accessible, affordable housing.
Countries have ratified CRPD but implement it differently. The principle remains consistent: disabled people have the right to live in community with support, not in institutions. Implementation varies:
The U.S. signed but has not ratified CRPD, so it is not legally binding. However, Olmstead v. L.C. (1999), a Supreme Court case interpreting the Americans with Disabilities Act, reached the same conclusion: unjustified segregation of disabled people in institutions violates the ADA. This is the U.S. implementation of CRPD Article 19 principle.
Fair Housing Act prohibits disability discrimination in housing and requires reasonable accommodations and modifications.
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act applies to federally-funded housing and mandates accessibility and accommodations.
See Housing Rights for detailed U.S. protections.
Canada ratified CRPD in 2016 and has implemented Article 19 principles through:
Accessible Canada Act (2019) applies to federally-regulated entities and requires them to proactively identify, remove, and prevent accessibility barriers, including in housing.
Canadian Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination based on disability and requires accommodation to the point of undue hardship.
Provincial human rights codes and tenancy acts provide additional protections varying by province.
See Housing Rights for Canadian-specific information.
EU member states are required to implement CRPD Article 19 through national legislation. The EU provides coordinated requirements:
UN CRPD Article 19 - EU Implementation requires member states to ensure disabled people can live independently with community support. This means:
Individual member states implement through national laws. Some have strong housing protections; others remain weaker.
UK (post-Brexit) has ratified CRPD and implements through the Equality Act 2010, which prohibits housing discrimination and requires reasonable adjustments. Disability Rights UK provides advocacy and resources.
Germany provides strong housing protections through the General Equal Treatment Act and extensive support services for disabled people living independently.
France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands have varying levels of CRPD implementation with mixed results in deinstitutionalization and community housing access.
See Housing Rights for EU-specific frameworks.
Australia ratified CRPD in 2008 and implements Article 19 through:
Disability Discrimination Act (1992) prohibits discrimination in housing and provides pathway for complaints.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provides individualized funding for disabled people, including housing support through Specialist Disability Accommodation. While not perfect (criticism exists around access and control), NDIS represents substantial implementation of Article 19 support requirement.
See Housing Rights for Australian-specific information.
Many Global South countries have ratified CRPD but face resource constraints in implementation. Housing challenges include:
Informal settlements: Over 1 billion people live in informal settlements globally; disabled people face compounded barriers in informal economy contexts without formal housing rights.
Limited support infrastructure: Many countries lack publicly-funded personal care, attendant services, or community support enabling independent living.
Institutional reliance: Disabled people often remain in institutions or family care due to lack of alternatives.
Cultural context: Different cultural models of family care, interdependence, and community responsibility shape housing approaches.
Yet disabled people in Global South are organizing: disability rights movements in Brazil, India, South Africa, Kenya, and throughout Latin America, Asia, and Africa are advocating for CRPD implementation and community living.
Examples of progress:
See Housing Rights for information on specific countries and regions.
Despite different legal frameworks, CRPD Article 19 creates consistency in core principles:
Principle 1: Community living as default
Disabled people should live in regular community (neighborhoods, towns, cities), not segregated or institutional settings. This applies universally.
Principle 2: Choice and control
Disabled people have the right to make decisions about where to live, with whom, and what arrangements work for them. Support should enable choice, not restrict it.
Principle 3: Support as right
Governments have obligation to fund and provide support services enabling disabled people to live independently. This is not charity; it's a right.
Principle 4: Accessibility
Housing itself and the broader environment (transportation, services, communication) must be accessible. Accessibility is a prerequisite for community living.
Principle 5: Anti-discrimination
Landlords, governments, and service providers cannot discriminate based on disability. This is consistent across all legal systems that have implemented CRPD.
Despite clear international frameworks, disabled people worldwide face housing barriers:
Underfunding: Many countries lack resources to provide community support services, leaving institutionalization as default.
Institutional inertia: Institutions (nursing homes, group homes, psychiatric facilities) are entrenched; states sometimes protect them financially rather than funding alternatives.
Enforcement gaps: Laws exist but are rarely enforced; complaints mechanisms are inadequate or inaccessible.
Economic barriers: Affordable housing is scarce globally; disabled people living in poverty are particularly excluded.
Intersectional discrimination: Disabled people of color, disabled immigrants, disabled LGBTQ+ people, disabled women, and disabled Indigenous people face compounded barriers in housing access.
Informal economy: In countries with large informal sectors, formal housing protections don't apply to majority of disabled people.
Disabled people globally are organizing to enforce CRPD Article 19:
UN Committee on Rights of Persons with Disabilities reviews state reports on CRPD implementation and issues recommendations. While not directly enforceable, this creates public accountability.
Regional human rights mechanisms (European Court of Human Rights, Inter-American Court, African Court) have increasingly recognized housing and community living rights.
Disabled people's organizations (DPOs) in every country are advocating for CRPD implementation, deinstitutionalization, and community living. These organizations are often more effective than governments in advancing rights.
Strategic litigation by disability organizations has increasingly forced governments to recognize Article 19 obligations—examples include cases in Europe, Latin America, and Asia.
Peer-led monitoring by disabled people documenting violations of housing rights creates accountability outside formal systems.
Whether you're in a country that has ratified CRPD, in a country like the U.S. that hasn't, or in a country with weak enforcement:
Know the international standard: Article 19 establishes your right to live independently in community with support. This applies universally regardless of your government's CRPD ratification status.
Understand your national laws: Find country-specific housing rights pages in this wiki to learn how your country implements these principles (or fails to).
Connect globally: Disabled people worldwide are organizing. International disability networks, regional organizations, and global solidarity strengthen local advocacy.
Document violations: If your government violates CRPD obligations, document them. This evidence supports advocacy, litigation, and international accountability mechanisms.
Organize collectively: Disabled people's organizations are powerful. If one doesn't exist in your area, others exist regionally and globally.
UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities: ohchr.org. Full text in multiple languages; General Comment 5 on Article 19 provides in-depth interpretation.
Disability Rights International: disabilityinternational.org. Global advocacy organization monitoring CRPD implementation and institutional conditions.
European Disability Forum: edf-feph.org. Coordinates disability organizations across Europe around CRPD implementation.
Disabled Peoples' International: dpi.org. Global federation of disabled people's organizations in 150+ countries.
SABE (Self Advocates Becoming Empowered) International: sabeint.org. International organization of self-advocates with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
ADAPT: adapt.org. U.S. organization but involved in international advocacy around deinstitutionalization.
Regional disability organizations: Contact disability rights organizations in your region—they have expertise in your country's implementation of housing rights.
Have resources, research, or country-specific information to contribute? Contribute to DisabilityWiki
Last updated: November 2025