Neighborhood connections and animal companions matter to aging with dignity, and how we build can support them. Here’s a human-scale proposal for aging in place.
Paws & Porchlight is a new housing concept from the Utah Manufactured Housing Coalition designed to meet the emotional and practical needs of older adults who want to age in place — with their pets and their dignity intact. The proposal features 12 small, energy-efficient cottage homes arranged along a walkable path, each with a porch, a yard, and access to communal spaces like a dog run and garden.
Built for speed, affordability, and community, these HUD-compliant manufactured homes can be installed in under 90 days at around $100,000 per unit. The goal isn’t high density—it’s high quality of life. The project responds to a growing crisis: aging adults being forced into housing that separates them from pets, community, and familiarity.
Paws & Porchlight envisions a village — not a facility — where people can grow old in place, keep their companions, and stay connected to the neighborhoods they helped build.
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