Shared housing reforms gain traction as cities address affordability

"Boarding and lodging houses played an important role during American industrialization. Could they make a come-back? Rural people and immigrants relied on them when they sought jobs in rapidly urbanizing cities and affordable housing was scarce. Cities zoned them largely out of existence over the past roughly 75 years. Now, they're getting fresh consideration and even some momentum as hidden-in-plain sight solutions in an all-out battle against a worsening housing affordability crisis."

"Nonprofit public interest law firm Institute for Justice has created a legislation template that the firm has begun lobbying states across the country to standardize SRO zoning. The legislation is modeled on a state of Washington law passed last year, which requires cities and counties to permit single-room occupancy or co-living housing in areas zoned for multifamily housing. Dubbed the Restoring Options in Occupancy Models Act (ROOM Act), the bill would apply statewide to legalize SRO housing and accelerate building supply."

Boarding and lodging houses historically provided essential, low-cost housing for rural migrants and immigrants during industrialization, but were largely eliminated by zoning over the past 75 years. Renewed interest in single-room occupancy (SRO) and co-living has emerged as a potential, underutilized option to address worsening urban housing affordability. The Covid-19 pandemic stalled earlier co-living growth by reducing demand for dense shared living, yet rising affordability pressures have prompted states and cities to reconsider bans. The Institute for Justice has drafted a model ROOM Act, based on Washington law, to require SRO permissibility in multifamily zones, enable conversions and new construction, and remove restrictive barriers.

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