NYC to Require 20% of Senior Housing be Multigenerational

A new law in New York City acknowledges the need for many seniors to live with caretakers, mandating that 20 percent of affordable housing built for seniors have a second bedroom.

As Miriam Musa explains in Rolling Out, “This groundbreaking policy shift acknowledges that nearly one-third of the city’s seniors live with adult children and need larger living spaces to maintain family connections while aging in place.”

The city’s Senior Affordable Rental Apartments (SARA) program will require developers who use the program to get low-interest loans to designate at least 20 percent of units as two-bedrooms, specifically targeting areas where affordable housing is hardest to come by. “This geographic focus helps address displacement concerns while keeping seniors connected to their established communities and support networks,” Musa adds.

The change marks a shift in affordable housing policies that previously focused on age-segregated senior housing with small studio or one-bedroom units. “The policy changes reflect a broader philosophy about aging that prioritizes community connection and personal dignity over institutional efficiency. By enabling seniors to live with family members, aides or chosen family, the new requirements support diverse approaches to aging that maintain autonomy while providing necessary support.”