Seeking remedies for providing affordable rentals on Whidbey Island, a group of innovative folks have formed In-Home Suites. On its website, In-Home Suites are defined as untapped resources such as under utilized spaces in existing houses. By making small changes such as adding a door, kitchenette, or bathroom, semi-independent living quarters can be created. This
This is a horrible, half-assed solution. It does nothing to solve the problem, and instead promotes further division of already cramped living spaces. The idea that we can’t build our way out of this crisis doesn’t even come close to addressing the root of the issues and instead just seeks to give less ownership to all involved.
Especially old people in rich countries often live in way too large houses. It is relativly common to buy a house for a couple with two children. Then the children leave and then one of the couple dies. So you end up with a house designed to house four people having one person living in it. That is why living space per person is going up in developed countries, while especially young people have to pay massive rent for cramped living space.
That is not to say, we do not need to built more and better housing, but that we should look at how we use the buildings we already have and use them better.