Building Possibility: How IHAPP is Expanding Inclusive Housing for the IDD Community

For individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), housing is about far more than having a place to live. It is about independence, dignity, safety, and belonging. Yet across Michigan and the country, people with IDD continue to face significant barriers to accessing stable, affordable, and community-integrated housing. Limited income, a shortage of accessible units, long waitlists, and a lack of housing options that truly support independence mean that many individuals are forced to remain in settings that no longer meet their needs or live with aging caregivers without a long-term plan in place.

The IDD Housing Access Pilot Program (IHAPP) was created to help change that reality.

Through IHAPP, Community Housing Network (CHN) is investing in a future where people with IDD are not separated from their communities but fully included in them. This pilot program is designed to expand housing that is disability-forward, affordable, and integrated into mixed-income developments and neighborhoods across Michigan.

Inclusive housing allows individuals with IDD to live alongside neighbors without disabilities, close to transportation, employment opportunities, health care, and social connections. It promotes autonomy while still allowing individuals to access the supports they need.

IHAPP supports this vision by providing flexible funding to developers and homebuyers through grants that can be used as gap financing for housing projects. In many developments, especially those serving extremely low-income households, financing gaps are one of the greatest barriers to moving projects forward. IHAPP fills that gap and helps turn innovative housing concepts into reality.

The program supports:

• Multifamily rental developments with units designated for individuals with IDD
• Mixed-income developments that promote true community integration
• Homeownership opportunities through down payment assistance and development grants

By funding both experienced and emerging developers, IHAPP encourages growth in a field that has historically been small but deeply impactful. The program recognizes that increasing inclusive housing requires not only resources, but also creativity, collaboration, and a willingness to build new models.

Equally important to the funding itself is the technical assistance CHN provides through this pilot program. In many ways, this support is just as impactful as the dollars invested. Developing housing that is inclusive, accessible, and financially viable requires specialized knowledge. For emerging developers, nonprofit organizations, and community partners, navigating this space can be complex and overwhelming.

Through IHAPP, CHN is helping build capacity by offering guidance on:

• Structuring development projects
• Layering funding sources
• Designing accessible and inclusive units
• Ensuring long-term affordability
• Understanding the unique housing needs of people with IDD

This creates an opportunity for new developers to enter the field with confidence and for experienced developers to strengthen their impact. Over time, this approach builds a stronger ecosystem of professionals who are equipped to create inclusive housing well beyond the life of this pilot program.

The IDD Housing Access Pilot Program is a meaningful step forward. It brings together funding, technical expertise, and a vision of inclusion to help reshape what housing can look like for people with IDD in Michigan. Through IHAPP, CHN is not only supporting individual projects, but we are helping build a future where inclusive, integrated housing is the norm, not the exception.

To learn more about IHAPP, please visit IDD Housing Access Pilot Program – Community Housing Network.