The typical American dream of a couple with 2.5 children and a dog in a typical American home is fast becoming a fantasy. The real dream is making sure that that typical American home has enough room for aging parents, teens and their growing needs, renters, single mothers or fathers and their children, as well as remote workspaces.
In a 2021 study by the Pew Research Center, over 59 million U.S. residents are living in multigenerational homes. This is four times the number reported in 1971.
The primary reason for the combined households is mostly due to finances, the economy, and the rising price of housing. The price of daycare and caregiving for older adults was also a factor.
While most of these mixed homes report positive experiences (30 percent), most homes are not conducive to housing multiple-family units as well as their vehicles and work situations.
The multigen homes being built today typically have a studio and extra garage space.
This is why we are huge advocates of multigen housing. Planning for the inevitable increase in this type of lifestyle should be at the top of the list of any housing development or city planning office.
While very few developers are building these types of homes, they are available. They usually include a separate living suite, basement or loft apartment, a converted master bedroom, or our favorite, a tiny house or ADU in the backyard.
While multigen housing is becoming more popular in places such as Asia and Germany, it is slow to catch on in the U.S. Making it a priority such as affordable housing or workforce housing will need to be next on the list.
To make your voice heard about the importance of multigen housing, contact AARP or the National Association of Realtors.
By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]