Article content

Kathleen and John Higgins stand in front of a building site in North Delta with a cardboard model of the four homes their family is creating on the same single-family, suburban lot they have called home for three decades.

The 1970s rancher in which the couple raised their family has been demolished and the foundation is being poured for two new duplexes with a total of four units, each with its own land title.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Delta family finds creative housing solutions for two generations Back to video

Kathleen and John, who are in their 60s, will live in one unit, allowing them to stay in their neighbourhood instead of moving to a townhouse or condo elsewhere. Their sons, James and Patrick, who are in their 20s and facing the full brunt of the housing affordability crisis, will each own a unit. The couple also have a daughter who may be ready to own the fourth unit by the time the homes are finished next year.

“We saw that (the options for all family members were) either million-dollar houses or townhomes and condos with strata fees,” says Kathleen. “This is a new way.”