Accessibility in housing is tied to social inclusion, allowing people of all abilities to stay in their homes even if their mobility or other needs change. The federal government has identified accessibility as one of the main components of its National Housing Strategy.

Retrofitting apartment housing to be barrier-free can be completed in phases, as required, or all at once as part of a deep energy retrofit project.

Accessible housing requires all common areas, entrances, corridors and elevators to be navigable in an accessible manner. It also requires that a percentage of units, evenly distributed across unit types, meet all the required clearances, incorporate specialized fixtures and cabinetry, and have hardware specially designed to be barrier-free.

Providing more accessible housing across Canada allows for a range of crucial housing needs to be met.