Learning from intergenerational housing projects in the USA

1. Learning from intergenerational
housing projects in the USA
Emma Garland
Business Assurance Officer
Ongo Homes

2. • Fund British citizens to travel overseas in pursuit of new and better ways of
tackling a wide range of the current challenges facing the UK.
• Successful applicants are known as Churchill Fellows for life.
•No qualifications are required, just a project and the desire and motivation to
improve your community, profession or field.
• Various categories, including ‘New approaches to social and affordable housing’
– new applications open from May 2018.
• http://www.wcmt.org.uk/

3. What is intergenerational housing?
• Enables people of different ages to live side by side as good neighbours, to
share their talents and resources, develop meaningful relationships and
support each other;
• Fosters programs, policies, and practices that promote engagement,
cooperation, interaction, and exchange between residents of different
generations;
• Provides adequately for the safety, health, education and basic necessities
of life for people of all ages, by taking a partnership or community-led
approach to the delivery of services and/or activities;
• Has private and communal spaces intended for collective use.
• Provides a safe living space for people of all
ages to interact, collaborate and explore the
values of each generation on an ongoing basis.

4. Why do we need intergenerational housing in the UK?
• The UK is becoming increasingly age-segregated
– Now less of an age mix in many neighbourhoods than at any time in the past.
• We need to diversify our housing offer for older people
– Increasingly ageing population with limited housing choices in terms of
tenure, location, size, affordability and type of care/support.
– Negative perceptions of age-segregated housing and increase in active ageing.
• It could bring many benefits
– Older people
– Younger people
– All ages
– Wider community
– The state
• It’s the right time?

5. Intergenerational housing in the UK and Europe
• Not a well known concept in the UK, but more common on the continent.
• Various approaches including:
• Homeshare:
– Younger person moves into the home of an older person who needs some support
– Low or free rent in return for around 10 hours per week of ‘help’
– Currently 22 schemes across the UK with 250 active relationships
– 4000 matches in France and 1800 in Spain
• Cohousing:
– Intentional community created and run by the people who live there
– Private homes but many shared spaces to promote interaction
– Currently 19 cohousing communities in the UK and a further 60 in development
– Hundreds in Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Germany, USA

6. Intergenerational housing in the UK and Europe cont…
• Students or young people living in specialist housing for older people:
– Volunteer a set number of hours per month in return for free or low cost
accommodation
– Live as ‘good neighbours’ - variety of activities with older residents e.g. watching
sports, cinema trips, playing cards, eating together or company when ill
– Cambridge LinkAges scheme
• City-wide intergenerational approach:
– Alicante, Spain:
– 244 affordable, intergenerational housing units in central urban areas
– Low income older people over the age of 65 (78%) and young people
under 35 (22%)
– Young people spend time acting as ‘good neighbours’ as above

7. Why go to the USA and what did I hope to find out?
• Much more common in the USA and a variety of models but not well
known about in the UK.
• Interviewed staff and residents to see how they worked in practical terms
and to find out what people thought about living & working there.

8. • Why did people choose to live there and has it met their expectations?
• What’s it like to live there?
• How far do they feel a sense of community?
• Is there much intergenerational mixing in practice and how much
activity is led by residents?
• What do staff and residents think are the main benefits and
downsides?
• Does the fact it’s intergenerational make a difference?
• What level/type of resources did the housing provider have in place?
• How do they ensure everyone is safeguarded?
• What is their allocation and selection process?
• Planning and design features, funding, on-going costs etc

9. Where did I go?

10. What will I talk about today?
Today I’ll focus on intergenerational housing where support is provided:
• Two schemes where young people of student age live alongside older
residents in supported housing – similar to European models
• Two schemes where foster and adoptive families live alongside older
people
• Three ‘Grandfamily’ housing schemes which house grandparents with
parental responsibility for grandchildren
• Also visited Ecovillage a cohousing community in Ithaca, NY state and
Cannon Place, an intergenerational housing development for veterans and
their families.

11. Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the
Elderly (H.O.M.E.) - Chicago
Aim – to help low income seniors remain independent and part of the community
Type of housing - intergenerational housing in three safe, affordable buildings
where seniors either live in private apartments or within ‘Good Life Residences’,
which are aimed at seniors who need some assistance.
Who lives there? - seniors, young adults and families with children all live in the
same building, in a family-like environment.

12. Mixture of private and shared spaces
• Private apartments or rooms for residents: mixed age throughout.
• Shared areas including:
– Kitchens
– Community rooms
– Living rooms
– Libraries
– Fitness area
– Garden rooms
– Gardens
– Patios
• Fully handicapped accessible and are close to public transport,
shopping, dining and places of worship.

13. Older residents
Characteristics:
• Yearly income of less than $26,600
• Around 50% are disabled
• Pay 1/3 of their income for rent, food and toiletries (get two home-cooked
meals per day)
Why did they want to live there?
• Mainly to access good quality, affordable supported housing rather than a
desire to live in an intergenerational setting
• Most hadn’t heard of intergenerational housing before
• Many referred by nurse, social worker or other agency

14. Debbie’s story

15. Resident’s Assistants
Characteristics:
• Young people of college-age who work approx. 20 hours per week in the ‘Good
Life Residences in exchange for full room and board – are employees
• Own room but share communal areas
• Must commit to live there for a year, but many stay on for two
What do they do?
• Various tasks such as preparing meals for residents at weekends, cleaning up
after dinner and being ‘on call’
• ‘Look after’ four older residents - decide between themselves what they want
to do. Agree expectations, needs and wants.
• Practical help such as cleaning rooms or doing laundry or just hang out and
have fun – playing cards or chess, watching a movie, knitting, chatting.
Why did they want to live there?
• Mixture of reasons – free rent, intergenerational environment,
fits in well with their studies.

16. Madya’s story

17. Families
Characteristics:
• Currently five low income families –
children must be under 18
Why did they want to live there?
• Both to access good quality, affordable
housing and a desire to live in an
intergenerational setting

18. What’s it like to live at H.O.M.E?
• “One big family”
• Regular intergenerational interaction both through planned activities and
natural mixing
• Sharing meals was important
• Real intergenerational friendships have developed
• Also intergenerational interaction with people from outside

19. Has it made a difference?
Older residents:
• Improved quality of life
• Less lonely
• Improved physical and mental health
• More independent
Residents Assistants:
• Not just ‘a job’
• Helped with their studies
• Developed them as a person
• Increased confidence
• Try new things

20. Tempelle’s story

21. Has it made a difference?
Families:
• Opportunity to create bonds with older adults
• Enjoy seeing the difference their children make
“I can see the change in residents when my two-year-old twins visit the Good
Life residents. Even the residents who never want to smile just light up around
the kids. They bring so much joy.”
Staff:
• Not just ‘a job’
• Love talking to the older residents and hearing their stories
• Chance to use all their skills

22. Any issues?
• Residents not involved in the planning or design
• As children have got older, families don’t interact as much as
they did
• Issues with increasing levels of frailty or diminishing mental
capacity
• Close bonds can create dependency and professional
boundary issues

23. Judson Manor - Cleveland
Type of housing
Provides both independent and assisted living to seniors
in an elegant revamped 1920s hotel within the city’s
University Circle. It is aimed at the higher-end of the
retirement market.
Artist-in-residence program
• Five college students live rent free alongside 120
seniors in exchange for taking part in music and art
related activities
• No requirement to provide support to residents but
expected that they will mix and form friendships
• Get a furnished apartment

24. Set up and application process
• Set up to solve twin issues of spare rooms at Judson and
shortage of student accommodation
• Did not involve significant set up costs
• Running for eight years and high demand
• University handles initial applications and screens applicants
• Resident committee screens shortlist, undertake interviews
and decide who gets a place
• Students have to submit a CV and essay about why they want
to live there

25. Why do students want to live there?
• Offer of a free apartment
• Access to Judson’s ballroom and
pianos
• Want to ‘give back’
• Opportunity to be around older
people

26. Has it made a difference?
• Draws residents out of their rooms
• Cheers them up
• Close friendships have developed
• “It gives us joy. My gosh, it’s lovely. We’ve all had wonderful children and they’re
gone now. Children grow up and go to school and they are gone. Mine are spread
out all over. But to live with young people and learn from them. It’s a whole new
dimension to life.”
• Gives students a sense of family
• Students benefit from the company of older adults who they can look up
to and learn from – e.g. painting or cooking
“I’ve heard people say that they think old people are boring, but
they are actually so much fun. They say what they think. I feel like
I’m the one that’s lucky here getting to hang out with them. When
you actually start speaking to them, you find you have a lot more in
common than you’d think.”

27. Any issues?
• Need to prepare residents when students were leaving
• Need to get the right students living there – not for everyone

28. Intergenerational housing for families fostering or
adopting children and older people
The Treehouse, Easthampton Massachusetts Hope Meadows, Rantoul, Illinois
Aim: to “stop the bounce” – to end the cycle of foster children being moved
from home to home by creating permanency, community and supportive
relationships.
Based on the community-as-intervention model.
Model has been adapted for other groups needing support.

29. What did they look like?
• One purpose built and one converted from old Air Force base
• Residents get their own homes of various sizes
• Village-like feel
• Unfenced and plenty of open spaces
• Many shared spaces:
– Community centre
– Children's library
– Computer room
– Rooms for individual tutoring
– Kitchen
– Playroom
– Open spaces
– Playground

30. Older residents
How it works:
• Seniors are required to provide six hours volunteering per week supporting
parents and their children as “honorary grandparents”
• In return, pay below market rent for homes
• Must be able-bodied and age 55 or older, ready to babysit, drive, tutor and,
mostly, love the kids who live there
• Receive training in how to deal with foster children
Why did they want to live there?
• Some had relevant experience, e.g. social work, nursing, school teachers
• Liked the idea of an intergenerational community and wanted to help the kids
• Wanted to make a difference / continue to contribute / give back
• Wanted to feel productive and keep active
• Wanted to be around others
• Didn’t want to live just with people of the same age

31. Mr Jim

32. What’s it like to live there?
• “One loving family” and a “ Caring community”
• Everyone knows each other and says hello
• All work together to support children
• Staff facilitate bringing together different age groups so they can get to
know one another but do not ‘make friendships happen’
• Children and seniors regularly socialise together
• Seniors give piano lessons, chaperone field trips, take children to ballet
and soccer practice, walk children to school, sew quilts, host sleepovers,
go fishing and babysit
• Always something going on - monthly get-togethers, dance
classes, yoga, sharing meals, theatre groups, photography
courses and after-school program

33. The after-school club at Hope Meadows. We all had a snack and did homework.
We talked about Halloween and decorated paper bats that had been made by
Clarissa, one of the older residents, before sharing our creations with each
other. After study time, the children were free to play table football, read books
or use the soft play area watched over by the elders.

34. The children at Hope Meadows taking part in a leaf-picking day which was
organised by Sandy, one of the older residents. Later that day, the children,
parents and older residents enjoyed a free pizza party organised by Hope’s
Director as a ‘thank you’ for their efforts.

35. Has it made a difference?
Children and young people:
• Better educational outcomes
• No arrests, teenage pregnancies or failed
placements
Parents:
• Support from older residents – someone to rely on
• Reduced stress and economic benefits
Beneficial to all three generations – positive effect on their lives.

36. Has it made a difference?
Older residents:
• No decline in mental, physical or emotional health
• Increases in quality of life
• Self-esteem and life satisfaction
• Ability to live independently on fixed or decreasing incomes
• Reduced isolation and expanded social connections
Why?
• Felt they were making a difference in the lives of others
• Makes you get up, get out and do things – helps to keep you active
• Real neighbours– make friends and makes you get out
• Look out for each other
• Feel connected but don’t have to join in
• Keeps you young – get to mix with different ages
• Love the kids!

37. Holly’s story

38. Any issues?
• Loss of purpose can create sadness and a sense of loss
• Need to think carefully about layout and maintenance if going to re-use
existing stock

39. Grandfamily housing
Griot Village, Cleveland, Ohio
Roseland Village, Chicago
PSS/WSF GrandParent Family apartments, South Bronx
Supportive housing for grandparents
with legal custody of grandchildren

40. Why is it needed?
• More than 2.4 million grandparents across the USA have responsibility for
grandchildren
• Face multiple challenges – poor physical and mental health, depression,
struggling on a low income, difficulty enrolling kids in school
• Housing – key problem!
– Excluded from age-designated housing
– Can’t afford decent, safe accommodation
– Often face eviction

41. Common features
• Grandparents submit their application which is then screened to check if
they meet eligibility criteria and they may undergo an interview:
– There is usually an upper age limit, both for grandparents and children
– Grandparents must have a legally sanctioned care relationship with
each child
– Grandparents must be on a low income
– Grandparents must understand the concept of grandfamily housing
and that alternative accommodation will be needed once the children
‘age-out’ (i.e. become adults)
• Homes are designed to meet the needs of older adults and
children
• An on-site resource or community centre including a large
open area, a kitchen and an ICT suite

42. Common features cont…
• Outdoor green spaces and play areas
• Located near to public transportation, commercial and/or retail
development, hospitals or medical centres and schools
• Residents were involved in the planning and design of the development
• Supportive services are provided – these are seen as essential to the
success of the projects
• Dedicated staff such as resident services co-ordinators, social workers,
youth program specialists, family caregiver support workers

43. Activities and programs
• Activities, events and programs are mainly organised by staff, but are
based on what residents say they need or would like
• Some are aimed at just one age group, whereas others aim to bring all the
community together, such as gardening programs
• Examples included:
– For grandparents - weekly support groups, peer support, educational and
empowerment training, health and wellness advice, counselling, computer
training and respite events, advocacy and assistance, information and referrals
to outside services, childcare, exercise classes such as Zumba, jewellery
making;
– For children - after-school study & recreation (e.g. tutoring, computer classes,
peer and academic support, arts and crafts, health and wellness, cooking
classes), supervised age-related activities, child counselling;
– For young adults including career guidance and job search strategies,
academic support, temporary relief from caregiving responsibilities,
information and referral to services, internships opportunities.

44. Grandmother Marlene at Roseland Village
“Gabrielle had language
development problems when she
came to live with me. We got her the
help she needed, and she went from
not talking to talking too much.”
“I just try to keep my grandkids really
active. They are enrolled in after
school programs and do a lot of art.
Ryan draws action figures. Brianna
draws fairies. I’ve seen about a
thousand fairies.”

45. Activities and programs cont…
• Holiday clubs
• Fun family events
Halloween at PSS/WSF GrandParent Family Apartments. Families
worked together to decorate the building and grandparents
helped to organise a Halloween party for the children. Here you
can see 62-year-old Peter who dressed up as a werewolf!

46. Has it made a difference?
Children and young people
• “A phenomenal place to live…I have a home and we can be a family”.
• Having the privacy of their own room and space, which makes them feel
happier and more secure
• Living alongside others who are going through a similar experience
• More opportunities and improved educational attainment
• Being supported as their grandparents get older and roles are reversed.
Jaziah

47. Has it made a difference?
Grandparents
• Safe, clean, good quality housing = stability and less worried
• Makes life easier for them = physical and mental health benefits
• Better able to support grandchildren and cope with situation
• Peer support invaluable = reduced loneliness and isolation & expanded
circle of friends
“I was in an apartment that was $900 a
month plus utilities. Trying to pay that kind
of rent on a fixed income is rough. This
building was a blessing. I’m grateful not to
drag laundry to the laundromat on the bus.”
Grandmother Doris at Roseland Village

48. Peter’s story

49. Has it made a difference?
Staff
• Love working there
• Residents love them!
Angela at Griot Village

50. Any issues?
• Need to ‘transition out’
• Future planning
• Lack of understanding of the concept and length of time taken
to get it off the ground
“They [the Ohio Housing Finance Authority] just didn’t get it at first”

51. Common themes
• Having a sense of purpose was important
• You need the right residents to make it work:
– Careful selection of residents based on their motivation for wanting to
live there
– Often in conjunction with people already living there
– Sometimes preference given to people with particular qualifications
and/or experience, e.g. in education, community or social work
– Stringent pre-tenancy checks
– Clear on ground rules or expectations at an early stage
– Trial visits enable both parties to check they are the right fit.

52. Common themes
• You need the right staff to make it work:
– Important that activities and programs / life there is resident led but…
– Need staff to help facilitate relationship building
– Consider commitment and motivation of staff
• Activities need to be resident-led:
– Core theme of each scheme visited
– Residents needs to be involved in planning, developing and
implementing programmes and activities
• Importance of communal areas and private spaces
• Importance of future planning

53. Possible barriers to setting it up in the UK
• Not a well-known concept
• Do we have the right culture to make it work?
• Do we have the right ‘stuff’ in place to make it happen?

54. Dissemination
• Final report will be available on the Winston Churchill Trust web site
• Work with the NHF and CIH to share more widely amongst housing
providers
• Hope to deliver presentations to strategic housing groups / health
groups etc.

55. Thanks for listening.
You can contact me via the following methods:
• E-mail: emmatgarland@yahoo.co.uk
• Blog: www.intergenerationalhousingblog.wordpress.com
• Twitter: @intergenhousing
• More about me: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dr-emma-garland-40872028

56. • Do we need this type of housing in
the UK?
• Would people in the UK want to live
here?
• Could we make it work?
• What do you think?