This week (17-22/5/25), the first accessible apartment was launched in Kiryat Motzkin, intended for out-of-home living for adults with physical disabilities who are members of the Ilan Association. This is a trend that will expand community-integrated living solutions within the framework of a community housing service operating under the Senior Housing Division of the Disabilities Administration in the Ministry of Welfare and Social Security. The apartment will be operated by Ilan's Beit Kessler residential home in Kiryat Haim, as a satellite apartment for people with complex motor disabilities. The first apartment opened in January 2024 in Haifa in the Kiryat Haim neighborhood, and later this week, another new apartment was launched in Kiryat Motzkin.
The launch of the new apartment was held in the presence of Ilan Chairman Brigadier General (ret.) Prof. Alon Domnis, Ilan CEO Orit Eilon Friedman, Ilan Haifa Branch Chairman Shlomo (Momo) Cohen, Director of Housing Services for the Disabled Hagai Moyal, Director of Social Services in Kiryat Motzkin Maayan Solomon, Haifa and Northern District Supervisor - Director of Disabilities in the Housing Division Shelly Chen, Director of the 'Beit Kessler' Residential Home Moshe Dolev, Beit Kessler physician Dr. Yechiel Arkin, Ilan Association's Attorney General Adv. Dikla Sitti-Meir, Ilan Association's Deputy Director of Rehabilitation Vered Rodich, residents and members of the association. Also as part of the launch, a mezuzah-setting ceremony was held, in which Kiryat Motzkin Deputy Mayors Nachum Mazuz and Gennady Dozortsev participated.
The apartment that was launched is a ground floor apartment, with its interior space adapted to the special needs of the residents. A wide hallway, accessible bathrooms, an accessible courtyard, and more. In addition, the apartment is located near main streets, cultural centers, and public transportation, and its location allows for unaccompanied conduct and options to choose from the variety of activities and social opportunities that life in the community has to offer.
In parallel with the transition to independence, residents will continue to receive the basket of rehabilitation services provided by the Kessler House Home, such as health services, paramedical treatments; physiotherapy, occupational therapy, a speech therapist and social worker support from the association's social services. The association notes that integration into the community allows, on the one hand, social and occupational opportunities for life in partnership with all people in the community. On the other hand, people who move around in wheelchairs and use rehabilitation or nursing equipment need a larger apartment space than regular apartments, and therefore it is of great importance that the apartment be accessible. The Ilan Association works to promote young people and adults with physical disabilities to a quality and meaningful life with maximum independence and believes that independence is, first and foremost, the freedom of a person to choose and make decisions that affect their entire life in their home according to their personal wishes. The association is constantly working to create housing solutions for every person with a physical disability in a way that will allow them to choose between the option of living in a nursing home and the option of living at home in the community.
Ilan CEO, Orit Eilon-Friedman, greeted those present:
"The Ilan Association sees great importance in developing a variety of services that will allow each person to choose the response that is right for them. Opening the apartment is part of a variety of services and initiatives that the association leads and promotes. We thank the Kiryat Motzkin Municipality and the Ministry of Social Welfare and Security for their cooperation."
In a situation where there are hundreds of war wounded whose motor skills are truly impaired, it is impossible to expect that the solution will be one or two apartments in the Krayot area. We need entire buildings with dozens of apartments in a variety of sizes, from single apartments to apartments for families of wounded soldiers, such that the building will be fully accessible, including even a social worker who will care for the residents of these buildings and coordinate rehabilitation, cultural and welfare activities for them, and fitness and activity facilities that are adapted for residents with disabilities. An apartment is very little compared to lists of hundreds who need suitable housing.
What would have been most appropriate would have been a law in which in every urban renewal project, such as the evacuation and construction of over 30 apartments, 5% of the apartments would be converted into apartments with special accessibility and suitable facilities for people with disabilities.
So that they can live within the community equally and not just in special apartments here and there.