What happens when the cost of housing is so expensive that young and old alike can’t get started or can’t afford to continue living alone? In Canada, the solution the federal government is incentivizing is renovating single-family homes to accommodate more people and better allow for multi-generational living.
Why does it matter in Minot? We’ve spent tens of millions of dollars over the past years subsidizing affordable housing with federal dollars. Yet, our zoning laws make accessory dwelling units and other forms of similar multigenerational practically illegal. Maybe we should take a queue from our Canadian neighbors and look to lower housing costs by expanding property rights instead of subsidies.