Lifelong Homes Pilot Certification

Guiding affordable housing design to help residents thrive no matter their age and ability

The Client: Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver

The Challenge: Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver purchased a former Section 8 housing complex consisting of 11 townhome units in Denver’s Cole neighborhood. After deciding to make two units Type A accessible, Habitat sought to learn if IBE’s Lifelong Homes certification program could further enable homeowners to remain in their homes as they age and/or live with physical disabilities. Given its nonprofit mission to help people live in safe, affordable, and durable homes, Habitat was also excited by the pilot opportunity to help inform improvements to the Lifelong Homes certification program.

Our Approach: IBE partnered with Habitat’s design team and construction staff over two years to review its High Street Homes project design and incorporate as many Lifelong Homes criteria as possible. IBE met regularly with the team to review rating system requirements, incorporate design elements, and co-develop a Resident Guide that orients new homeowners to each Lifelong Homes strategy that is integrated into their home. Because the Lifelong Homes certification program is still in pilot phase, the process was very collaborative and Habitat’s feedback is being used to inform refinements to Lifelong criteria and processes.

The Outcomes: With certification of two High Street Homes units, Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver has officially become the first builder to achieve Lifelong Homes Pilot Certification. The fully ADA accessible units earned more than 65% of possible certification points and excelled in the Visitability and Affordability & Maintenance Lifelong categories.