Wednesday, July 22, 2026
The changing world of American housing
For most of human history, and even today in many cultures, the dominant model of housing was multi-generational. People lived with their parents until they married, and parents often lived with their kids in their later years. Even in separate dwellings, families often lived in housing groups so they were all in shouting distance.
In the 20th century, the model in the USA changed. With the development of the Interstate Highway system, people could live farther from work, and cheap single-family houses could be built for commuters. People in their 20's did not live with their parents, and the elderly were sent to live in nursing homes or expected to stay on their own. Home ownership was part of the "American Dream" for each generation, independently.
That model is breaking down at both ends. Young people can't afford to own a home or live on their own. Health care expenses and the high cost of assisted living are putting older people in a situation where they can get by only by selling their house. We no longer have a housing market that supports single-generation living.
So, by choice or not, we are returning to multi-generational living. For this to be successful, stigmas have to be removed and support for multi-generational living has to include changing zoning laws in many places. It does not look like our political system is capable of fixing the housing crisis, so adaptations with have to be made-- whether we want it or not.
