Why boardinghouses could make a comeback

Summary of Why boardinghouses could make a comeback

by NPR

9m•June 2, 2026
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Overview of Why boardinghouses could make a comeback

This NPR Indicator from Planet Money episode examines whether boarding houses — also called single-room occupancy buildings, or SROs — could help address homelessness and the lack of truly affordable housing in U.S. cities. Using New York’s Euclid Hall and resident Vera Hill as a real-world example, the episode traces how these once-common housing options vanished through urban renewal and regulation, and why some policymakers now see them as a needed “missing rung” on the housing ladder.

What boarding houses / SROs are

  • SROs are small, low-cost units that typically provide:
    • a private room
    • shared bathrooms and sometimes shared kitchens
  • Historically, they ranged from:
    • basic long-term hotel rooms
    • dorm-like arrangements
    • extremely bare-bones “cubicle” rooms
  • They were once a major source of cheap urban housing for workers, immigrants, and low-income residents.

Vera Hill’s story: a modern example

  • Vera Hill, 77, lives at Euclid Hall in New York City, run by the West Side Federation for Senior and Supportive Housing.
  • She previously worked in healthcare at Mount Sinai, rising through several roles before financial strain pushed her into a shelter.
  • Euclid Hall gave her:
    • stability
    • a friendly community
    • support services
  • She likes the housing, though she notes a major limitation:
    • shared bathrooms
    • no private kitchen in her room

How SROs became widespread

  • SROs expanded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as cities grew rapidly.
  • They were especially common after:
    • the Civil War
    • increased immigration
    • rural-to-urban migration
  • In the 1950s, New York had more than 200,000 SRO units, accounting for over 10% of the city’s rental housing stock.
  • Similar patterns existed in cities like Chicago and San Francisco.

Why they disappeared

The episode argues that SROs were not simply abandoned — they were actively dismantled.

Main reasons for decline

  • Urban renewal policies encouraged landlords to convert or demolish them.
  • Cities imposed stricter housing codes around:
    • sunlight
    • heating
    • fire safety
    • minimum unit sizes
  • Many buildings were seen as:
    • unsafe
    • unsanitary
    • associated with crime or disorder
  • Critics argue the destruction was also shaped by:
    • class bias
    • racism
    • “not in my backyard” pressures

Notable example: the International Hotel

  • In 1977, police evicted more than 100 tenants from San Francisco’s International Hotel.
  • The residents were mostly elderly Filipino and Chinese people.
  • The standoff became a symbol of the broader destruction of SRO housing.

Connection to homelessness

  • The episode emphasizes that the loss of SROs contributed to homelessness.
  • A congressional report after the International Hotel evictions recognized that SRO closures were increasing homelessness.
  • Rebecca Baird-Remba, a housing reporter, notes that:
    • about half of men entering New York homeless shelters in the 1980s had previously lived in SROs
  • The episode also mentions other homelessness drivers, including:
    • deinstitutionalization of psychiatric hospitals
    • reduced federal responsibility for mental health care
  • Still, the loss of cheap housing is presented as a major factor.

Could boarding houses make a comeback?

The episode suggests that SROs could help fill a major gap in the housing market, especially for people who need:

  • low-cost, short-term housing
  • a place to live independently before moving to something more permanent
  • supportive housing with services nearby

Why supporters like the idea

  • SROs can be built relatively inexpensively.
  • They could offer a lower barrier to entry than standard apartments.
  • They may be especially useful for:
    • younger adults
    • middle-aged people
    • people transitioning out of homelessness

Signs of renewed interest

  • Some states, including Washington and Oregon, have taken steps to legalize more shared housing.
  • New York City has also discussed bringing back more shared housing in housing plans.

Limits and drawbacks

The episode is careful not to romanticize SROs.

Concerns raised by Paul Freitag

  • He supports SROs in principle, but says they are difficult for aging residents because:
    • people may need walkers, special beds, or home health aides
    • shared, dense living makes care harder
    • communicable diseases spread more easily
  • COVID and flu underscored these risks.

Bottom line

  • SROs are not ideal for everyone, especially older adults with medical needs.
  • But they may still be a valuable housing option for people who need affordable shelter now.

Key takeaway

The episode’s central argument is that the U.S. lost a crucial, very cheap housing type that once helped prevent homelessness. While boarding houses are not a universal solution, bringing back modern versions of SROs could provide an important, lower-cost step on the housing ladder for people who otherwise might end up in shelters or on the street.