Access to a decent home is a human right. It’s one of the principles in the International Bill of Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the International Bill of Rights of the Child, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Aotearoa is a signatory to all declarations, yet the right to a decent home has not been enacted.

Our approach to housing has underserved one community to the point it could be described as inhumane.

In this episode, Vic Crockford is joined by Wellington-based human rights lawyer, Erin Gough, to talk about accessible housing for the disabled community.

Erin has first-hand experience with the severe lack of accessible housing options. Recently she became a first home owner despite the barriers she encountered.

“I've had a lot of barriers as a wheelchair user accessing suitable housing and feeling at home. The most acute experience meant I had to shower at my workplace for about seven months.” Erin Gough, human rights advocate.

Topics covered:

- the impact of inaccessible housing on mental & physical health

- how universal design can help provide a better standard of home

- how people's fear of disability impacts good housing design

- the impact of seen and unseen disabilities.

And more.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

Resources:

Access full episode transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vRgJvfwNyfWWAaJWrVe3HbO_eFKSV5Oc17Fe6PV-Fa4vzoh8XRj6IHWax2GcSPFOw/pub

Erin’s work

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/real-estate/125303303/lack-of-accessible-housing-left-woman-showering-at-work-for-months

https://www.rnz.co.nz/summer-2020/bodies-and-health/summer-reads/repairing-an-invisible-coat-of-shame/

Community Housing Aotearoa Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/communityhousing.org.nz

EP 2: Progressive home ownership: finding a solution to generation rent