
The Kelsey
Model & Strategy
The Kelsey is pioneering disability-forward housing solutions that open doors to more affordable homes and opportunities for everyone. 1 in 4 Americans has a disability and the affordable housing crisis plagues US cities and towns. The Kelsey solves these challenges through innovative housing development and advocacy model to create mixed ability, mixed-income communities.
The Kelsey engages communities and sets new standards for better design and policy, attracts new sources of capital and unrealized land value to accelerate development, and drives better outcomes by creating a resident-centered, connected housing experience. In all of The Kelsey’s work, the organization includes the voices and ideas of individuals with disabilities.



Micaela Connery and her cousin Kelsey O’Connor were born three months apart and went through every life milestone together. When it came time to live on their own, it took Micaela several months to find housing—but it took Kelsey almost eight years. Her family struggled to find a home that was supportive of her disabilities, while still letting Kelsey be part of the broader community. Micaela quickly learned housing wasn’t a challenge unique to Kelsey; less than 12% of adults with developmental disabilities had their own housing. She founded The Kelsey to change that reality.
Disability inclusion has been the center of Micaela’s entire life and career. She was the Founder and CEO of Unified Theater, which scaled to serve students with and without disabilities in over 100 schools and was acquired by Kids Included Together. As an undergraduate at the University of Virginia, Micaela led programs around community inclusion for individuals with autism. At the Harvard Kennedy School, she focused on disability housing models as a Fellow at the Joint Center for Housing Studies and a Social Innovation and Change Initiative.
Impact
The Kelsey has unlocked over $27 million in public, private, and philanthropic support for inclusive housing. The Kelsey Ayer Station in San Jose was the first direct investment out of Google’s $250 million affordable housing fund.
The Kelsey has over 240 homes in development in the San Francisco Bay Area for people with and without disabilities.
The Kelsey leads policy advocacy that advances inclusive housing, including community organizing and housing policy and budget efforts in California and nationwide.
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The building permits have been submitted for Ayer Station! Our partners @srg_nc and Devcon Construction have been h… https://t.co/cufbkwiFeH
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RT @DDinWDC: @DC_DDCouncil What a great testimonial to Money Follows the Person from artist Tyree Brown https://t.co/OyMB6z1Ykk #DPS2021
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In #DPS2021 Community Can't Wait: A Panel Discussion on the Need to Access HCBS, Mike Oxford reminds us "we are als… https://t.co/bciABtWOtX
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From @NLIHC, one of the many housing solutions include: "Expand the national housing trust fund to at least $40 BI… https://t.co/IyyTlwikta
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"People of color and people with disabilities are disproportionately impact ed by the shortage of accessible housin… https://t.co/RN1IK0oU07
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"The Disability community needs to be at the table as new {housing} ideas are developed to ensure our needs are add… https://t.co/kRKiY9eaqZ
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Grateful to be at "Housing: Where We Live" at the Disability Policy Seminar w/ @TASHtweet @AUCDNews @NLIHC… https://t.co/DWmi2E2CIp
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Recently Micaela spoke with @georgecaweiner of @WholeWhale about leveraging philanthropy for affordable housing, s… https://t.co/YycCjVFcFQ
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While leasing is a couple years away in the communities we're building, we've compiled some resources for those loo… https://t.co/rLeEAFqHV4
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We're ready! Our Manager of Housing & Inclusion Services, Ann Bui, is co-facilitating the @DisabilityVU Housing Cha… https://t.co/bFh6FOC8Qq
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Allie & Micaela met w/@RepZoeLofgren to share about The Kelsey Ayer Station, located in her congressional district,… https://t.co/lFAyuPwUAG
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CA has the most acute need for extremely-low income (ELI) homes, based on a report by @NLIHC. More than 21% of ELI… https://t.co/1tvZPnrXWn
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Wise words from Judy Heumann on what independence really means. #WisdomWednesday @fordfoundation… https://t.co/KieaFQunVZ
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RT @SecFudge: Housing is infrastructure.
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RT @policylink: "When it comes to disabled people, I think we have to realize that this community is the largest minority community in this…
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RT @policylink: "We are committed to overcoming the legacies of racism. We are committed to making sure that people, regardless of ability…
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Listening into dynamic conversations led by @policylink about how to advance equity in the Biden-Harris admin, incl… https://t.co/IP3Ch3fW1u
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A home’s accessibility affects each person’s ability to live healthy, meaningful lives. As disability-forward housi… https://t.co/W7jLI2bhsg