Housing Issues

By: Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-04-23 16:23:24.653190-04:00

"There was an old woman who lived in a shoe. She had so many children she didn't know what to do."

We've all heard this famous nursery rhyme. We can even picture that old woman in our mind's eye. She's standing outside a two-story house that is shaped like a shoe. Children are leaning out of every window. They look happy. She looks worried.

Grandparents raising grandchildren can relate to the woman's concerns. On some days, their homes feel like a shoe that's a few sizes too small. Those homes may have been quite cozy before the grandchildren moved in. Now they are crowded and inadequate.

Size isn't the only housing problem that grandparent caregivers face. Some live in senior housing. These buildings don't allow children. A grandparent caregiver may try to hide the child. They may need to find another place to live.

Public housing rules may also cause problems. These rules limit the number of people who can live in one apartment. If there are too many children, the grandparent may have to move. But where? Even if grandparents could find a bigger unit, they may not be able to afford it, or it may not be in a safe neighborhood.

Good News for Renters

More grandparents are raising grandchildren than ever before. As a result, their housing problems are starting to get noticed. Groups around the country are now working to make things better. Some have been successful.

One success has been GrandFamilies House in Boston. Two nonprofit groups opened this apartment complex in 1998. It provides affordable housing for grandparents and the children they are raising. There are 26 apartments in the house. Families can rent units with two, three or four bedrooms. Rents range from $500 to $1,000 a month. Most families pay less than that, though. That's because they get help from the local housing authority.

GrandFamilies House has many features that help grandparent caregivers. The building has ramps and grab bars for older tenants. It also has child-proof windows and outlets. There are staff people on site who help tenants get the services they need. A van takes tenants to the store and other places they need to go. The YWCA in Boston runs a preschool and after-school program on site. There are also fitness classes for adults.

Groups in 13 states are already working to build housing like GrandFamilies House. More projects may soon be possible, thanks to the American Dream Downpayment Act. That act was signed into law in 2003. This new law allows the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to:

  • Study the housing needs of grandparents raising grandchildren around the country.
  • Start a small pilot program to see if HUD could develop housing like GrandFamilies House.
  • Train HUD workers so they have a better understanding of grandparent-headed families.

If You Own Your Own Home

Grandparents who own their own homes may have an easier time than renters when grandchildren come to live. They don't have to follow a landlord's rules about who can live with them. But they still have to deal with some housing problems. For one thing, their homes may be too small. They may have to move to a bigger house to make room for their grandchildren. Or they might have to build an addition to their current house. Either option can very disruptive.

Building an addition can also be expensive. Where will you get the money? You may not be able to easily put your hands on the kind of cash it will take to do the job right. And you may not feel good about borrowing the money. After all, it's hard to make loan payments when you're working hard to stretch every dollar.

There is another option. If you own your home, and if you are at least 62 years old, you may be able to use a "reverse" mortgage to pay for the work you need. A reverse mortgage is a loan that lets you turn some of the value of your home into cash. But you don't have to sell the house and move. And you don't have to make loan payments each month. In fact, you don't have to pay anything back until you die, sell your home, or permanently move out of your home.

Keep in mind that a reverse mortgage isn't for everyone. But it could be just what you need right now. Be sure to learn more about these mortgages before you make any decisions.

Safety Issues

Even if a Grandma and Grandpa's home is big enough, it might not be child-friendly. It could be filled with hazards that go unnoticed until little ones start getting into trouble. Take a look around your home. Are your electrical outlets covered? If not, small children might explore them-and give themselves a shock. Does your tub have a non-slip surface? Without one, a child could fall during bath time. Do your sinks have anti-scald devices? These devices will help protect small hands from burning water. Are you dragging a stroller up steps to get it into the house? You'll avoid back pain if you install a ramp. Are there handrails on every step? They will keep toddlers from taking a tumble. The list goes on and on.

Most of these changes won't cost much. But you'll have to spend some time assessing your house or apartment and making the needed changes. In return, you'll get the satisfaction of knowing that you've done all you can to keep your grandchildren safe. An added bonus: your home will be a safer place for you, too.

AARP Resources

  • Rate Your Home
    Rate the design of each room of your home. Once you've identified trouble spots, you can find out how to modify your home so it is safer for your grandchildren and you.
  • Choosing a Home Improvement Contractor
    Find out how to define your remodeling job, compare contractors, and close the deal.
  • Reverse Mortgages
    This collection of articles provides important information for anyone considering a reverse mortgage.
  • Home Made Money: A Consumer's Guide to Reverse Mortgages
    Order a free consumer guide from AARP about reverse mortgages, or download a pdf version (Adobe Acrobat required.)
  • Selling a Home
    Get answers to some basic questions that come up when you decide to sell your home.

Other Resources

  • Housing Needs and Challenges (PDF)
    Generations United examines the housing challenges of grandparents raising grandchildren. It also describes projects in five states that will soon be providing housing for these cargivers. (Adobe Acrobat required.)
  • Public Housing
    You may be able to lower your rent by living in public housing. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development discusses what's available and how you apply.
  • Mind the Gap (PDF)
    Pictures and the story of GrandFamilies House, the first housing development in the country designed to serve grandparents raising grandchildren. (Adobe Acrobat required.)
  • National GrandRally
    The National Wednesdays in Washington® GrandRally is a biennial gathering of grandparents and others who are raising children of relatives. People come from across the country. The GrandRally is an opportunity to educate Members of Congress about the supports and services these families need. Find out how to get involved and who to connect with in your state.

Books

Find these books online at Barnes & Noble.com.

 

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