Millennials are less likely to own a home than their parents were at their age and they are more likely to feel lonely. Not exactly a winning combo. Even worse, these two challenges feed into each other. A lack of affordable houses erodes our sense of community, making us feel more lonely. That’s why one millennial, Trish Becker-Hafnor, created Chase Street Commons — an affordable, community-style approach to living that seeks to address both challenges for millennials in northwest Denver. Here, on this one-acre tract of land, is a collection of affordable, communal spaces, inhabited by families who believe connection and community are the keys to a healthier, happier life. They call it a “micro village”. Instead of single-family homes, cohousing families reside in apartments or condos, or planned communities specifically designed to foster community. The standard single-family home, “...that dream actually separates us from what we actually dream of the most,” Becker-Hafnor says. What we really dream of, according Becker-Hafnor, is a life filled with friendship, purpose, personal growth and a feeling of belonging.
Millennials are less likely to own a home than their ...