The Kelsey

The Kelsey is pioneering disability-forward housing solutions that open doors to more affordable homes and opportunities for everyone. Co-led by people with and without disabilities, The Kelsey develops best-in-class inclusive, affordable, accessible housing communities designed to scale and leads advocacy to create market conditions so inclusive housing becomes the norm. The Kelsey uses a three pronged approach to its work: - Sharing a suite of models and toolkits, design guidelines, and operations standards to enable broad expansion of disability-forward housing; - Centering leaders with disabilities as experts, advocates, and paid partners; - Unlocking new funding for inclusive housing including seeding philanthropic capital, accessing public dollars and providing recyclable funding. In all this, the Kelsey centers the perspectives of people with disabilities and emphasizes that designing spaces, policies, and programs for disability access and inclusion will advance opportunities for everyone. Being disability-forward recognizes disability as an identity that is valued and visible while creating spaces where people of all identities are seen, welcomed, and supported. The Kelsey Civic Center is our San Francisco-based project in partnership with Mercy Housing; a 115 home, fully inclusive, mixed-income, mixed-ability housing community, including units for people across all incomes and those with and without disabilities. In addition to the housing development, this project will provide a vibrant, inclusive community life that connects residents with needs to in-home and community-based services. Additionally, The Kelsey Civic Center will have a public art component. A Community Advisory Group, composed of San Francisco residents and community leaders with and without disabilities, is currently seeking local artists with disabilities to contribute to a mural displayed in the building. The art component will be created by people with disabilities selected in partnership with local nonprofit, Creativity Explored.