Seniors who are unable--for either physical or financial reasons--to continue an independent life in their current homes, yet don’t require assisted living, may want to explore Elder Cottage Housing Opportunities (ECHO).
What is ECHO?
An ECHO senior housing unit is a temporary, manufactured home, usually a small studio or one-bedroom of 700 square feet or less, which seniors can add as a separate structure on the same property as a single-family home belonging to an adult child or another relative.
The idea for this senior housing option began in Australia as a senior housing option for older adults who want to live near their families, but not with them.
Seniors get the support they need without the expense of private care or the loss of their independence, and everyone in the extended family has privacy when they want it.
ECHO Senior Housing Benefits
ECHO is an ideal senior housing answer for many aging adults who:
- Value self-reliance
- Seek to reduce their living expenses
- Want to feel more secure about getting the help they need as they age
- Prefer to stay close to their children and grandchildren
Because ECHO senior housing offers proximity and daily contact, grandparents and grandchildren are more likely to develop and maintain close relationships than often happens when they live in different citie--or even across town.
Aging parents and adult children also become closer in many cases, and the two households often develop a strong spirit of shared responsibility and mutual support.
Other Benefits of ECHO Senior Housing
ECHO senior housing offers many other benefits for seniors and their families. For example:
- Cost-effective. ECHO senior housing units can cost far less to purchase or lease than traditional homes, and many financing options are available. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), companies in California and Pennsylvania offer 500 square foot one-bedroom units, completely installed, for around $25,000. In other areas, ECHO senior housing may cost more but leasing a unit could be an option.
- Uses existing equity. For seniors who own their homes, it may be possible to use existing equity to finance the ECHO senior housing unit.
At the same time, seniors can rent their existing homes, charging enough enough to cover the lower ECHO costs, which enables them to earn additional income while they continue to build equity in the existing home.
- Temporary. Once an ECHO senior housing cottage is no longer needed, it can be removed and reused elsewhere.
- Low-stress. Because the two households are side-by-side on the same property, seniors know they can call for assistance from people they love and trust, and their family members can respond quickly and easily with no need to travel.
The Challenges
ECHO senior housing does face some challenges and potential obstacles. Zoning codes in many communities still don’t allow ECHO senior housing, often because of concerns about unintentionally opening the door for increased density or an influx of mobile homes.
To address these issues, many senior housing advocates are working to ensure that all ECHO homes will meet high-quality construction standards and complement the styles of homes in any neighborhood where they are installed.
Interested in ECHO Senior Housing? Here are the First Steps
If you think ECHO senior housing might be a good option for you, sit down with your adult children and have an honest discussion about your increasing needs--and how ECHO might (or might not) work for all of you. Make sure everyone has a chance to express concerns and offer thoughts about the pros and cons of ECHO senior housing for you and your family, and the stress of having family members living close by.
If you all agree that ECHO senior housing is worth considering, does your property support another home? Is there enough space to install the structure, and can your property support additional utility hookups?
Decide if manufactured home would increase or decrease the value of your property, and if the home could be removed when you no longer need it.
Next, contact your local zoning authority to learn whether ECHO senior housing is permitted in your community. If not, ask how you can apply for a special-use permit. If necessary, seek help from an attorney, and request support from local organizations that focus on housing and aging issues, and the concerns of seniors. Also, make sure your neighbors won't have objections to multi-family housing on your property.
What’s Next for Senior Housing?
As the population ages and more seniors live longer and healthier lives, the need for alternative senior housing options such as ECHO will increase. To make sure that growing need is met, several things must happen:
- State and local governments, local housing authorities, and local zoning commissions must be made aware of the problem and encouraged to recognize the growing need for alternative senior housing. Support their efforts to include ECHO senior housing and other options in their housing plans.
- Housing manufacturers must recognize the growing need and create high-quality housing units, along with developing financing options that will make ECHO senior housing units, and other housing alternatives, more affordable.
- Most important, seniors and the groups that advocate on their behalf must make alternative senior housing a priority--and actively support creative and practical options including ECHO senior housing.
