Many parents hope their children and grandchildren will be able to stay in this region, thriving in a healthy economy and enjoying a good quality of life over the next 50 years. One third of the new residents will be our children and grandchildren. The way we plan for the arrival of the next two generations will make a huge difference in how much of our quality of life we can pass on to them. Different people have different housing needs. What may suit a family with children may not suit a retired couple whose children are grown or a single adult.
Individuals also have different needs at different points of their lives.
One major goal of Metro's growth management efforts is to provide a range of reasonable housing options, including affordable apartments over retail stores, rowhouses and apartment units as well as single family homes, for all citizens of our region now and in the future. Demographic studies show that this wider range of options will accommodate the growing number of single person households and families without children. The region will continue to provide a wide range of housing options that should meet more traditional needs and preferences. Single family houses will continue to be the dominant type of housing in the region, with a wide range of lot sizes and styles of homes. Similarly, first time home buyers and families with low to moderate incomes are struggling to afford homes.