Your pathway to housing starts here!

When finding housing, it can be overwhelming with lots of information online. Many adults with disabilities, like autism, want to live on their own, have their own home, and control who enters. This is why living independently can be appealing because it lets people manage their environment.

Living independently varies for each person. It takes different amounts of time and steps for everyone. These resources help Autistic people find housing in Alberta, focusing on living as independently as possible.

The first resource is an Alberta Housing Road Map, which has seven sections to help you find the housing that is right for you. Each of the sections has its own webpage with information, resources and tools that will help you answer key questions. You can visit these pages by clicking on the map or on the list below.

  • Skills and Independence – Given my skills and support needs, what can independent living look like for me?
  • Money – What is my income, and how much can I spend?
  • Supports – What financial and service supports can I access in Alberta?
  • Community – Where do I want to live?
  • Housing Options – How do I find housing that is right for me?
  • Timing – When do I want to move?
  • Action – What actions do I need to take to help me move?

Prefer a paper copy of the Alberta Housing Roadmap? Download the PDF below.

Learning Sessions & Tutorials

Rentfaster Tutorial

Learn how to use the housing search platform Rentfaster to find housing which meets your needs.
Watch Here

Overcoming Housing Application Barriers

Learn how to overcome your application challenges and set your application apart to secure your preferred rental.

Watch Here

Create your Housing Support Plan

Create a plan, to have the supports to succeed in living in(ter)dependently.

Watch Here

Renting 101

A webinar on the basics of renting by the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta

Watch Here

Why In(ter)dependant Living - William Pritchard Conversation

Voice of Autistic reflecting on In(ter)dependent Living.

Watch Here

And More...

Additional learning sessions and resources to support advocacy and systems change.

Click Here

Housing Continuum

The housing continuum is the range of housing types available in a community, from emergency shelter to homeownership. In between lies an assortment of housing options and types, each critically important for different people at different times.

The housing continuum includes homeless, emergency shelter, transitional housing, supportive housing, community housing, affordable housing and finally market housing.

Hover over each housing type for a definition.

The Housing Contiuum shows different levels of support available for housing Homelessness Emergency Shelter Transitional Housing Supportive Housing Community Housing Affordable Housing Market Housing
Homelessness: Lack of a stable, safe, and permanent place to live. This may result in people accessing shelters, temporary housing, living in vehicles, abandoned buildings, inconsistently with family or friends, or in public spaces.
Emergency Shelter: Short-term shelter providing people with an immediate place to stay, designed for crisis-support and for people to enter and exit rapidly.
Transitional Housing: Temporary housing intended to help people move toward stable, independent living. Bridging the gap between homelessness or shelters and permanent housing. Stays may last months to a few years.
Supportive Housing: Stable housing that includes built-in support for people with chronic and persistent disabilities, mental health conditions, or substance use.
Community Housing: Sometimes called Social or Subsidized Housing. Stable housing that is typically owned and operated by government or non-profit organizations, designed to provide deeply affordable rental units for low-income households.
Affordable Housing: Stable home rental or ownership that costs no more than 30% of a household's gross income. Affordable housing is a broader category that includes both Community Housing and private sector developments. Affordability is maintained through various mechanisms and may include moderate-income households as opposed to strictly low-income residents.
Market Housing: Stable private rental and homeownership housing where prices are determined by landlords, developers, and real estate markets without direct subsidies or affordability mandates. Costs fluctuate based on supply, demand, and economic conditions.

Other Topics of Interest

  1. Cleaning Services can be an effective way to ensure your home remains safe, clean and free of pests. Most municipalities have multiple private cleaning service providers.
  2. Meal and grocery delivery is a great way to ensure proper nutrition and regular eating. Many municipalities have local meal or grocery delivery options, including MealsOnWheels and others.
  3. Supportive Roommate: Though this guide’s audience if for Family Managed PDD the same consideration can be applied, if you were to consider a Supportive Roommate privately. Read the guide
  4. Edmonton: Supportive Landlord. Ask about the Supportive Landlord service being offered in Edmonton

  • The Center for Public Legal Education Alberta

A resource guide from AIDE Canada. Housing options, renter’s rights and responsibilities, tips on independent living. Learn more