More families, friends move in together

[Liberal_in_LA]

More families, friends move in together

Monika Grundy, left, and her mother, Vel, fold clothes in their living room that doubles as Monika's walk-in closet.


"It's crowed to say the least. I'm retired and working full time, but we are happy that we are all together despite the 'over-crowding' in the home."

--Robert B. Lettow, whose two grown children, plus one of their spouses, a granddaughter and mother-in-law live with him and his wife.

The Grundy family seemed to be headed down the conventional path followed by American families: Daughter goes to college, graduates, gets a job and her own apartment.

Then something happened.

"She lost her job," Vel Grundy says about daughter Monika, 25. "She kept looking and got very, very discouraged. She moved back home."

Grown children returning home. Brothers and sisters moving in together. Families taking in grandparents. Friends living in the basement.

Fueled by the dismal economy and high unemployment, more Americans — friends and families — are doubling up.

----------------

The number of people in non-family households — those whose members are not related — grew 4.4% from 2005 to 2009, faster than the 3.4% growth for family households.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/2010-09-29-doubling-up_N.htm?csp=24

[bobbolink]

1. Pre-homeless.

[lonestarnot]

2. But the recession is over.

:crazy:

[SlipperySlope]

7. Completely over

There is a chicken in every pot, and a new car in every garage.

Happy days are here again!

Things just couldn't be better.

:sarcasm:

[canoeist52]

3. We're about to get another 21 y/o "daughter" soon.

Her parents are losing their home next month.

[Lagomorph]

4. I've seen many immigrants...

Buy a large home and move in the extended family. They leave the house to their children and continue to live at home, cared for by their children and grand children. Seems like a prudent way to make the most of their resources.

[phantom power]

5. The whole "single-family dwelling" thing is relatively new, and maybe transient.

Really, it can make a hell of a lot of sense to share more housing. Keeps people out of cardboard boxes.
:shrug:

[CoffeeCat]

6. one step before "taking in boarders" happens...

You know it's coming.

Pretty soon, those McMansions will be like fraternity houses--renting out the rooms
to people needing a cheap alternative to buying a home or renting an apartment.

[shanti]

8. count me in

one of my grown sons can't find work and is living with me "temporarily". it's the second time within a year.