Gathering Strength selected for Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant to study accessible housing.
One of 30 nationwide chosen for the Local Data for Equitable Communities grant from the RWJF and Urban Institute
Inaccessible and unsafe housing remains the only option for too many Louisvillians with disabilities who live on low incomes. Gathering Strength is working to change this. To address this urgent need, we applied for and were honored to be one of only 30 nonprofits nationwide awarded a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) grant – affirming both the urgency of the problem and the strength of our approach.
Gathering Strength received the grant in July of 2025 to conduct a comprehensive data analysis to determine Louisville’s accessible, affordable housing gap. A final report is planned for May, 2026. The purpose of the 2025 Local Data for Equitable Communities grant program is to use local data to catalyze action and create healthier communities. Supported by the RWJF and the Urban Institute, each project demonstrates how local data can be a powerful tool for self-determination, grassroots action, and improving quality of life.
National research shows a severe shortage of accessible housing in the U.S., which disproportionately affects low-income households. Disability and poverty are deeply connected. For example, nationally, mobility disability is five times more common among adults aged 45–64 who live in poverty, which means daily struggles with stairs, inaccessible bathrooms, and isolation from community life.
Louisville’s Metro Department of Health and national studies alike identify housing accessibility and affordability as critical social determinants of health. Without safe and affordable housing, people with disabilities face cycles of exclusion, poor health outcomes, and limited independence. With it, research shows they experience fewer household accidents, lower mortality rates, greater independence, enhanced social participation, and less reliance on institutional care.
Currently, Louisville lacks local data to drive action. With the help of the RWJF grant, Gathering Strength is filling this gap and will use the data to create change. With this grant Gathering Strength plans to achieve:
- Louisville’s first-ever comprehensive analysis of the accessible, affordable housing gap – creating a model other cities and counties can follow.
- Commitment from key affordable housing funders to incentivize the building of more accessible homes.
- A model housing search tool that connects people with disabilities and service providers to accessible, affordable homes.
These outcomes will open doors—literally and figuratively—for more Louisvillians with disabilities living on low incomes.
