How can urban planners create more affordable housing options for seniors?

1 Assess the demand

The first step for urban planners is to assess the current and future demand for senior housing in their area, taking into account factors such as demographics, income levels, health status, mobility, and lifestyle preferences. By conducting surveys, interviews, focus groups, and data analysis, urban planners can identify the gaps and opportunities in the existing housing supply, as well as the preferences and expectations of seniors and their families. This will help them to design housing policies and programs that are responsive to the diverse needs of seniors.

2 Promote mixed-use development

One of the ways to create more affordable housing options for seniors is to promote mixed-use development, which combines residential, commercial, and community uses in the same building or area. Mixed-use development can offer seniors the benefits of living close to services, amenities, social activities, and public transportation, as well as the opportunity to interact with people of different ages and backgrounds. Mixed-use development can also reduce the cost of housing by sharing infrastructure, land, and maintenance expenses among different uses.

3 Support accessory dwelling units

Another strategy for urban planners is to support accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which are secondary units that are attached or detached from the main house, such as granny flats, garage apartments, or backyard cottages. ADUs can provide seniors with more affordable and flexible housing options, as they can rent them out for extra income, live in them while renting out the main house, or use them for family members or caregivers. ADUs can also increase the supply of affordable housing in the neighborhood, without changing its character or density.

4 Encourage co-housing and co-living

Co-housing and co-living are forms of shared housing that can offer seniors more affordable, accessible, and supportive living environments. Co-housing is a type of intentional community where residents own or rent their own private units, but also share common spaces and facilities, such as kitchens, gardens, or workshops. Co-living is a type of rental housing where residents share bedrooms or apartments, as well as common spaces and amenities, such as lounges, gyms, or co-working spaces. Both co-housing and co-living can foster social interaction, mutual support, and a sense of belonging among seniors.

5 Implement inclusionary zoning

Inclusionary zoning is a policy tool that requires or incentivizes developers to include a certain percentage of affordable units in their new or renovated projects, either on-site or off-site. Inclusionary zoning can help urban planners to create more affordable housing options for seniors in areas where the market prices are too high or the supply is too low. Inclusionary zoning can also promote social equity and inclusion by creating more diverse and mixed-income neighborhoods.

6 Partner with stakeholders

Finally, urban planners can partner with various stakeholders, such as government agencies, non-profit organizations, private developers, community groups, and seniors themselves, to create more affordable housing options for seniors. By collaborating and leveraging the resources, expertise, and perspectives of different stakeholders, urban planners can design and implement more effective, innovative, and sustainable housing solutions for seniors. Partnerships can also enhance the participation and empowerment of seniors in the planning and decision-making processes.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?