On November 17th, community members came together—both in person and online—to support an important presentation at the Delta City Council meeting. Our President, Shirley-Ann Reid, alongside Karla Verschoor, Executive Director at Inclusion BC, presented “Building Inclusive Housing: Brick by Brick – Empowering Community Together.” The presentation outlined the importance of building long-term, inclusive housing; housing that offers a sustainable option for adults living with intellectual disabilities.
The strong turnout demonstrated something powerful: our community cares deeply about ensuring adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities have access to inclusive housing they can truly call home
Why Inclusive Housing Matters
For many adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, finding stable, supportive, and inclusive housing is one of the biggest barriers to living independently. Inclusive housing isn’t simply about a place to live—it’s about dignity, safety, community connection, and the opportunity to make meaningful choices. It provides individuals the chance to participate fully in their community, develop lifelong skills, and build lives rooted in belonging.
This is why advocacy at the municipal level is so important. Policy changes directly shape what housing options are available and how quickly progress can happen.
What Happened at the Council Meeting
We are pleased to share that the presentation was extremely well received. In fact, Delta City Council unanimously passed the motion—without any further discussion—supporting our three key recommendations, each of which plays an essential role in building a more inclusive housing landscape:
1. Remove the word “Pilot” from Inclusionary Housing (#8)
Removing the word pilot signals a commitment to long-term, sustainable inclusionary housing rather than temporary or experimental measures. This strengthens the City of Delta’s Housing Action Plan and reinforces the message that inclusive housing is not optional—it’s necessary.
2. Collaborate on a DELTA Toolbox for Inclusive Design
An inclusive design toolbox will help guide future developments by offering resources and best practices to ensure new housing meets the needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This practical step empowers builders, planners, and city staff to design with inclusion in mind from the very beginning.
3. Partner with Nonprofits Already Doing This Work
Nonprofit organizations bring expertise, lived experience, and decades of community knowledge. Formal partnerships ensure that future housing solutions are grounded in what really works for the people they aim to support. As we shared in the presentation, this takes the approach of “Nothing About Us, Without Us”, a core tenet of this work.
Moving Forward: A More Inclusive Delta
Your support—showing up, speaking up, and standing with us—played a meaningful role in moving this work forward. Each step brings us closer to a Delta where every adult with intellectual and developmental disabilities has access to safe, welcoming, and truly inclusive housing.
This progress is the result of community effort, shared vision, and unwavering belief in the right of all people to have a home of their own.
Thank you for standing with us. Together, we are building an inclusive future—brick by brick.
