For Scot Hein, living steps away from his two-year-old granddaughter is an “extraordinary” blessing. He can spend time with her every day, whether it’s for storytime or playing in the garden.
The living arrangement was made possible because his daughter and son-in-law built a smaller home in his backyard in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood.
“We made the land work for us … to leverage housing for our next generation of family,” said Hein, 67. His daughter Mary Hein and son-in-law Arran McAteer moved into the 1,400 square-foot, rose-coloured wood-frame house two years ago.
And it was because of poverty.
Let’s be very clear on that: Canada is returning to multigenerational homes because the middle class is becoming the lower class again. This isn’t a good thing. It’s a sign of an impoverished society.