ECHO Cottage Housing Helps Families Stay Closer

An ECHO (Elder Cottage Housing Opportunities) unit is often a separate, small, manufactured home added in the side or backyard of a single-family house - usually an adult child's house. It can also be an apartment within the main house or added onto the main structure. Older parents can then live near their children but not with them.

ECHO is an ideal answer for many families. It allows older adults to get the support they need while all can stay independent in their own homes. It gives everyone the privacy they may desire.

ECHO units permit closeness without sacrificing self-reliance or independence. Often, they foster a spirit of mutual support between the households. Grandparents and grandchildren are more apt to develop close relationships. An ECHO unit can eliminate the hassle of distance traveling to offer needed support to loved ones.