‘Grandfamily’ Housing Caters to Older Americans Raising Children

Ms. Lynn was at her breaking point when a child welfare worker told her about Bridge Meadows, a new multigenerational housing community for older adults with low incomes, adoptive families or “grandfamilies” — with a grandparent, adult family member or friend raising a child — like hers. Bridge Meadows, in North Portland, had nine townhouses available for eligible families and 27 apartments for single, older adults. Besides affordable rent, Bridge Meadows would offer social services, like mental health specialists.

Less than three months later, Ms. Lynn was unpacking there. “There was a world of weight taken off my shoulders,” she said.

More older Americans are finding a haven in the “grandfamily housing” communities sprouting nationwide. Roughly 2.7 million children are being raised in grandfamilies, and programs like Bridge Meadows aim to provide stable housing. Additionally, such communities can help older adults regain their footing as they contend with unforeseen caregiving expenses, skyrocketing housing costs and a lack of homes that are accessible for older or disabled people.

Comprehensive national data on the growth of such projects over the past decade is scant, experts say. There are at least 19 grandfamily housing programs with on-site services across the United States, financed by a mix of public and private funding, according to Generations United, a nonprofit focused on intergenerational collaboration. Projects are underway in Washington, D.C., and Redmond, Ore., and lawmakers in the House reintroduced the Grandfamily Housing Act, which would create a national pilot program to expand grandfamily housing.

The pandemic has illuminated the nation’s limited housing options, and households headed by a person 65 and older are rising faster than those in other age groups. “There have been grandparents raising grandchildren for a long period of time,” said Rodney Harrell, vice president for family, home and community at AARP. “It’s relatively recently that housing developers have started to pay attention.”

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/19/business/retirement-grandparents-raising-children.html