According to UMDI analysis of the 2017 – 2021 American Community Survey, 12% of the population statewide has some type of disability, amounting to just over 800,000 people. The Census Bureau defines disability across six categories: Ambulatory, cognitive, hearing, independent living, self-care, and vision. People may also report having multiple disabilities. An additional 45,000 residents living in institutionalized settings have a disability. Around one-third of the population 65+ has a disability. Currently, two in five people with a disability are age 65 and older. The aging Baby Boomer population along with the projected increase in the older adult population will drive up the number of people with a disability.
Approximately one in four households statewide—24% or approximately 650,000 households— have a member with some type of disability. Households with a disability are more likely to have lower incomes: 36% of households with a disability make $35,000 or less, compared to 21% of all households in the state. Additionally, 60% of households with a disability earn less than $75,000, which is below the state’s median household income. These households are also more likely to be renters: 41% rent compared to approximately 36% of all households in the state.
Western regions of Massachusetts have a higher share of people with disabilities, with reports of over 15% in the Berkshire (BRPC) and Pioneer Valley (PVPC) regions, compared to 12% overall in the state. This is likely due to the older populations in these regions. Some of the regions in the eastern part of the state have a lower share than the statewide average; Old Colony (OCPC), Metropolitan Area (MAPC) (10%), and Merrimack Valley (MRPC) (11%). Despite its lower percentage, MAPC still has the highest number of people with a disability due to its large population. PVPC has the highest share of households with a disability at 30%, higher than the 24% in the state overall.
In terms of type of disability, the most common disability among households in the state is an ambulatory disability, affecting activities such as walking, climbing stairs, reaching, lifting, or carrying. This is also the most common disability among older adults, affecting 19% of the 65+ population which translates to over 200,000 individuals. Around 335,000 households (12% of the total) have a household member with an ambulatory disability. Ambulatory disabilities can affect the type of housing needed as people may require elevator access, entrance ramps, or single-floor accommodations.
Independent living disabilities affect 10% or 264,000 households and involves physical, mental, or emotional conditions lasting six months or more that makes it difficult or impossible to perform basic activities outside the home alone such as shopping or attending medical appointments. This disability affects 13% of the 65+ population amounting to approximately 150,000 people.
Self-care disabilities affect 5% of households in the state or 143,000 households and 7% of the 65+ population. This disability involves a physical or mental health condition that has lasted at least six months and impairs basic activities such as bathing, dressing, or getting around inside the home. Self-care disabilities are also more common in older adults; however, they are not as common as ambulatory or independent living disabilities.
Hearing disabilities affect 7% of households in the state, which is approximately 200,000 households. Many people with disabilities do not require much, if any, accommodation or accessibility features in their homes. For example, a resident with a hearing disability may require only visual smoke alarms or doorbells.
Cognitive disabilities affect 10% of households in the state, which is approximately 270,000 households. Cognitive disabilities vary widely and include difficulties learning, remembering, concentrating, or making decisions because of a physical, mental, or emotional condition. This can range from mental health conditions like depression to intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorders. The type of accommodations needed for this population likely depends on other disabilities they might have such as self-care or independent living disabilities. Many may not need accessible housing, per se, but need affordable housing with support services.
People with disabilities in Massachusetts face multiple barriers to housing. It’s nearly impossible to find a housing unit that is affordable, accessible, and available. Stories collected by the Massachusetts Statewide Independent Living Council highlight the real-life challenges of household members with disabilities, many of whom are living in spaces that do not adequately meet their needs, Common issues include units that are too small, units that are not located on the first floor, elevators that are not well maintained and reliable, and other accessibility deficits.
Housing affordability and housing security is especially difficult for people with disabilities who need long-term services and support (LTSS). This population is more likely to have severe cost burdens, fall behind on rent or mortgage payments, and live in poor-quality housing. They also face other disparities such as living in neighborhoods with higher rates of serious crime and greater risk of natural disasters.
Existing federal support for people with disabilities is inadequate: 84% of people with disabilities in the U.S. who are low-income and eligible for housing assistance are not receiving public housing or rental assistance. The number of very low-income older adult households that qualify for HUD housing assistance is rising fast. As the population ages, the number will likely continue to grow.
These national trends are mirrored in Massachusetts, with a lack of accessible, affordable housing units across the state. The state’s aging population will only compound these issues and older housing stock will need updates and modifications to support the diverse needs of people with disabilities.
The 1999 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Olmstead v L.C. (1999) maintains that states have a legal obligation to administer programs and activities in an integrated setting appropriate to the needs of qualified individuals. This decision recognizes that States may satisfy this obligation through the development of a comprehensive working plan for placing individuals with disabilities in less restrictive settings—known as the Olmstead Plan. First completed in 2008, Massachusetts’ Olmstead Plan encompasses efforts across government agencies to support individuals with disabilities access community living options. Updated every five years, the State plan recognizes the specific housing needs of this population and measures efforts to do.
In 2024, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) announced a settlement had been reached in a class action suit (Marsters v. Healey) for expanding opportunities for individuals in nursing facilities, including thousands of class members, allowing them to receive the services they need to live in their communities of choice. The partnership between EOHHS and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities establishes 800 new subsidized housing units specifically for elders and disabled MassHealth members transitioning from a nursing facility to the community.
Since disability and access needs present in numerous ways and change over time for individuals, it is difficult to create a definitive estimate of disability needs or inventory of units with accessibility and visitability features. What we define as “accessible housing” has not been updated to meet our current understanding of the ways in which disabilities require varying accessibility needs (i.e., vision impairment, neurodivergent).