The Kelsey
Based in San Francisco, operating nationally, we are a team of people with and without disabilities, creating a disability-forward housing future. The Kelsey advances disability-forward housing solutions that open doors to homes and opportunities for everyone. We both co-develop affordable, accessible, inclusive housing and lead advocacy and field-building efforts to create market conditions so inclusive housing becomes the norm. In just six years, we have built over 240 homes, unlocked almost $190M in funding, and impacted over 6,000 community advocates. Residents with and without disabilities now live in communities that were in concept five years ago. Our Technical Assistance has supported projects across 16 states, and our open-source resources have been used in almost every state. All new and existing team members are expected to embody our values in their everyday work: Disability-Forward: We bring our lived experiences as disabled people and allies to everything we do. We seek to create spaces where disability is a valued part of human identity and communities. We center access, practice interdependence, and value diversity. Intentional: We are thoughtful, curious, and deliberate. We deeply understand the systems impacting our work and willingly learn new strategies needed to advance our mission. Joyful: We value joy even as we undertake serious work and challenges. We create space for ourselves and our partners to experience community, fun, purpose, and happiness. Radically Inclusive: We are welcoming, care-centered, and accepting. We practice hospitality and foster belonging for all people in our community and networks, across their many identities and ideas. Groundbreaking: We pave new ways to understand and approach the work we do, unconstrained by the status quo and stigma. We transparently and willingly share our knowledge with others to make more impact possible and open new opportunities.