Stable housing provides a foundation for health, relationships and community participation. However, people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) may face barriers to accessing and maintaining safe, stable housing.
A newly updated issue paper from the CanFASD, A Place to Call Home: Addressing Housing Needs for Individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, examines these barriers and offers recommendations for improving housing supports for people with FASD. Authored by Ginny Fazari, Hannah Denberg, Celisse Bibr and Kelly Harding, the paper explores how housing instability intersects with disability, mental health, trauma, substance use and broader social inequities.
Understanding the barriers to stable housing
FASD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disability that affects at least 4% of the Canadian population. Differences in memory, executive functioning, judgment and adaptive functioning can make everyday tasks associated with maintaining housing difficult. However, housing instability is not the fault of an individual. Stigma, limited understanding of FASD and fragmented service systems create barriers to finding and maintaining housing. For example, difficulties remembering housing rules, managing appointments or navigating complex systems may be misinterpreted as unwillingness to cooperate. Without appropriate accommodations, these misunderstandings can put housing stability at risk.
The paper also highlights how housing inequities disproportionately affect Indigenous Peoples, whose experiences of housing insecurity are shaped by the ongoing impacts of colonialism, systemic disadvantage and limited access to appropriate housing and services. The authors emphasize the need for culturally safe, community-informed approaches that support Indigenous self-determination.
What does successful housing look like?
A key message from the paper is that housing success should not only be measured by whether someone can live independently. People with FASD have diverse strengths, preferences and support needs. While some may prefer to live independently, others may benefit from supported or interdependent living arrangements that assist tenants with daily activities, financial management or navigating services.
A person’s housing needs can also change over time. Effective approaches should offer flexibility and ensure that individuals can access appropriate support as their circumstances evolve. Housing supports must account for the needs of people with FASD rather than expecting individuals to adapt to systems that may not work for them.
Recommendations for improving housing stability
The issue paper outlines several ways policymakers and service providers can better support people with FASD:
- Provide a range of options with flexible levels of assistance (i.e. emergency shelters, transitional housing, supported and independent living).
- Improve collaboration between housing providers, health care professionals and community services to ensure people receive coordinated support.
- Involve people with FASD in decisions about where they live and what supports they receive, recognizing their individual strengths, preferences and goals.
- Develop culturally grounded approaches in partnership with Indigenous communities and organizations.
- Recognize the importance of trusted relationships with family, caregivers, service providers and community members in supporting long-term housing stability.
- Provide ongoing training for housing professionals so they can better understand FASD and implement practical accommodations.
These recommendations highlight the importance of looking beyond housing availability alone. Sustainable housing solutions also require coordinated services, supportive relationships and an understanding of the individual needs of people with FASD.
To learn more about the research, barriers and recommendations for improving housing stability for people with FASD, read the full issue paper.