Bay Area county wants to help older adults age in place
Alameda County is developing a program that will help older homeowners build backyard accessory dwelling units as they age in place.
TL;DR
- Alameda County's SHIFT program helps seniors age in place by building backyard ADUs.
- Seniors can move into the ADU, split their lot, and sell their original home.
- The program leverages new California laws like AB 68, Prop 19, and SB 9.
- This creates new housing for families and allows seniors to stay in their communities.
- Potential challenges include seniors' reluctance to move or leave assets to heirs.
- SB 9's lot-splitting aspect may face hurdles with mortgage servicers.
- The county is seeking an administrator to guide seniors through the process.
- Public outreach is expected in early 2027, with a goal of 10 ADUs initially.