Housing

Modifying your home

The Government of Canada can help eligible building owners to make housing accessible to people with disabilities through the following programs:

• The Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) for Persons with Disabilities financially helps eligible homeowners and landlords make their dwellings accessible to low-income people with disabilities. It also provides assistance to create secondary and garden suites for low-income seniors and adults with disabilities.
• If you are a low-income senior with a disability, the Home Adaptations for Seniors' Independence Program helps homeowners and landlords pay for adaptations that will help you to stay longer in your home.

To find out more about these programs:

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) at 1 800 668-2642
TTY: 1 800 309-3388

www.cmhc.ca

In your province or territory, similar programs may be delivered jointly with other agencies under a different name. See page 39 for contact information for your province or territory.

Making Things Easier

These handy publications can help you modify a residence and make it barrier-free:

• FlexHousing: Pocket Planner for home buyers and builders helps you plan and create a FlexHouse that is adaptable, accessible and affordable.
• A Modification Checklist: Accessibility Using RRAP for Persons with Disabilities contains nearly a hundred practical suggestions for improving accessibility. It's a must for any family with a member who has a disability.

To get these free publications and to find out more about these programs:

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation at 1 800 668-2642
TTY: 1 800 309-3388

www.cmhc.ca

To find out more about how to modify your home, contact your municipality.

Medical expense tax credit for moving expenses

You can claim, as a medical expense on your tax return, reasonable moving expenses of up to $2,000 to move a person:

• who has a severe and prolonged mobility impairment, or
• who lacks normal physical development, to housing that is more accessible, or in which the person is more mobile or functional.

1 800 959-8281
TTY: 1 800 665-0354

www.cra.gc.ca/disability