Could the forgotten boardinghouse be the key to solving the modern housing crisis?

Single room occupancy units, once a standard entry point into the housing market, are seeing a renewed push for revival across the United States. This episode examines why these dwellings disappeared and how they might serve as a practical solution to current housing shortages.

Boardinghouses, often referred to as single room occupancy units or SROs, historically functioned as the first rung on the housing ladder for many Americans. Their decline left a significant gap in the availability of affordable, entry-level living spaces.

Current efforts to bring these units back aim to address the ongoing housing crisis by providing more accessible options. By tracing the history of their disappearance, the discussion highlights how urban housing structures have evolved and why reintroducing these models is now being considered as a viable policy path.

Source: Why boardinghouses could make a comeback | The Indicator