Demand for multi-generational housing is on the rise in Canada. Municipalities and builders should take note.
Whether it's boomerang children returning home or retirees angling for more face time with the grandkids, an increasing number of Canadians are choosing to reside in multigenerational family groups. And both builders and municipalities are taking note, with flexible housing options and a loosening of zoning restrictions.
While multigenerational living is not unusual in many parts of the world, "the norm in Canada has historically been small nuclear households," says Barbara Mitchell, professor of sociology and gerontology at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C.
Now, however, "we're seeing a rise in multigenerational families across cultural backgrounds," she says, adding: "Immigration has shown us how other types of households can work."
Thanks to Blake Laven
FULL STORY: The multi-generational home make a comeback

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City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research