In tough economic times, is it possible for different families to live together? (generation, illegal)

[Del Boy]

By different, I mean unrelated.

I understand there are many countries where there are multi generational families under one roof, but would it be possible for two different families to live together under one roof?

I imagine if families were forced to share living expenses that only one adult would be working. That being said, suppose your wife stayed at home, and in the other family, the man stayed at home.

Would you be comfortable with this type of arrangement? I picture some guy sitting around the house in his underwear all day.

Or suppose, both men worked, wouldn't it still be akward coming home to another family? Is this type of arrangement common in any other country?

How could something like this possibly work in such a hetergenous society like the US?

[malamute]

It's not at all unusual where I am living to see 3 or 4 families in houses meant for 1 family. So yes it can be done.

[Joykins]

It's not unusual at all, especially among immigrants. My mother in law sold her house to 2 families, and it wasn't that big a house.

[waterboy7375]

Ya do what ya gotta do plain and simple.

[GregW]

That has been done before and is being done again. Necessity can create strange and, sometimes stressful, situations but it beats the Republican alternative of starving in the dark and cold.

[Onthevergeofanervous]

We may see more of this as the great recession continues. Americans tend to prefer more personal space than other cultures so it would definitely be an adjustment.

Young unmarried females are especially vulnerable if they are in close contact with unrelated single males.

[Wayland Woman]

Down the block from me are three families sharing a house. They were all working for the same, now defunct company at one time and now they use the house as a sort of base camp. Several of them have jobs in another state, sharing a small apartment there during week and coming back here on the weekends to see their wives and kids. They don't want to move their families away from their extended families and schools when they don't know how long their out-of-state jobs will last.

[The Dissenter]

It is actually common in Washington for two bedroom apartments to consist of a couple in one bedroom and a single person in the other as two (technically) seperate families. Actually that was the setup in my current place before I moved in.

[GregW]

The local zoning and realators must be going crazy. The zoning people can get only one tax for the schools no matter how many more kids are there and the crowding must drop property sales even more. But, if it works for the people, it is OK with me.

FWIW - we had another "family" living with us for a while when they were thrown out of their respective houses. Hey they were friends that needed help.

[freemkt]

Originally Posted by Del Boy

By different, I mean unrelated.

That would be unlawful in many communities which have limits on unrelated individuals sharing housing. I lived in one place which restricted unrelated occupancy to two individuals, so two families living together would be illegal if one was unmarried.