Everyone deserves a home they can afford and use safely. Yet fewer than 6% of homes in the United States are designed to be accessible—and fewer than 1% are accessible to wheelchair users.

This shortage affects millions of people with disabilities and a rapidly growing number of older adults. By 2060, one in four Americans will be age 65 or older, and approximately 44% of adults over 65 already have a disability. Without affordable, accessible homes, people may be forced into institutions, separated from their communities, or unable to age safely in place.

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit is the nation’s primary program for producing affordable rental housing, but it does not do enough to ensure that the homes it supports are accessible.

The Visitable Inclusive Tax Credits for Accessible Living (VITAL) Act (S.5285/ H.R.10049) would change that. It would:

• Require states to ensure that at least 40% of LIHTC units are accessible or adaptable—or at least 20% when those homes are also in qualifying walkable and rollable communities.
• Provide a powerful incentive for developments that make at least half of their affordable units accessible or adaptable and locate them near transportation, services, and community resources.
• Support independence, community living, and aging in place while reducing the cost of modifying inaccessible homes later.

Congress must act now. Tell your U.S. senators and representative to co-sponsor the VITAL Act and work to move it forward.