Introducing the Collaborative Accessibility Exchange:
A Community-Built Housing Model and Pilot for Seniors and Families
The South Wedge Planning Committee (SWPC) is proud to announce the launch of the Collaborative Accessibility Exchange, a new community-driven initiative to design and test a housing model that helps seniors age in place while opening up larger homes for young families in the South Wedge of Rochester.
Backed by a $20,000 grant by Council Women Lashay Harris with the City of Rochester this pilot will serve as a blueprint for intergenerational housing solutions—and we’re inviting the public to help us shape it.
Building a Model Together
This is not just a program—it’s a collaborative effort to build a working model that can be scaled and adapted across Rochester and beyond. At its core, the Collaborative Accessibility Exchange is about empowering residents to create practical, human-centered solutions to the challenges they face in their own neighborhoods.
We’re asking residents, neighbors, partners, and advocates to join us in designing this pilot—bringing their voices, experiences, and ideas to the table.
Why It Matters
In the South Wedge, seniors in multistory homes are facing increasing difficulty living independently due to mobility issues—but accessible one-story homes are scarce. Many are forced to leave their longtime neighborhoods, which can lead to social isolation and health challenges.
At the same time, young families are competing in a tight housing market, often priced out of larger homes by cash-buying investors. As a result, both groups are struggling to stay rooted in the communities they love.
The Collaborative Accessibility Exchange aims to bring these groups together in mutually beneficial housing transitions—helping seniors move into accessible homes and freeing up family-sized housing for those who need it most.
What the Pilot Will Do
Over the coming months, the Collaborative Accessibility Exchange will:
Connect seniors looking to downsize with young families needing more space through a structured, supported matching process.
Host community meetings to gather input, raise awareness, and co-create the pilot alongside South Wedge residents.
Build partnerships with housing professionals, city officials, and organizations like Commonground Health’s SAGE II Commission and the Aging Alliance.
Develop tools and systems to monitor the pilot, evaluate its impact, and refine the model for future use across the city.
We Need You to Help Build This
The Collaborative Accessibility Exchange is only possible with community participation. Whether you’re a senior thinking about downsizing, a family seeking more space, a housing advocate, or simply someone who cares about the future of our neighborhood—we want you at the table.
This is your opportunity to help us create a new, replicable approach to housing stability and intergenerational connection.
Be Part of the Solution
Join us in shaping this model and pilot, making the South Wedge a leader in innovative, inclusive housing. To learn more, attend an upcoming community meeting, a focus group or get involved directly. For more information on how you can help contact Jennifer Posey (JPosey@swpc.org) at the South Wedge Planning Committee, sign up for our newsletter on www.swpc.org and follow us on social media.
Together, let’s build a model that works—for all generations.