Student Corner: Exploring Micro-Units: Part 2

Overview Part 1 of this two-part series discussed what micro-units are, where they are found, and the problem they seek to address. In Part 2 of this series, this blog will explore three criticisms of micro-units and provide a case for why micro-units should still be considered a viable housing option. Criticism 1: Micro-units may lend themselves to overcrowding and health concerns Although micro-units are growing in popularity as one way to address housing needs in cities across the U.S., not everyone is convinced that smaller units are a good idea. Micro-units are not the first time our country has offered small spaces as residences, and critics of micro-units point to the potential for overcrowding and health risks that were prevalent in tenement housing in the early 20th century (The Atlantic, Observer). However, three factors present today help to mitigate these risks for micro-units: household composition, demand demographic, and micro-unit design. Today, household sizes are much smaller than they were in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In 1850, the average household size was 6.16 people, compared to 3.07 by 2000 (Salcedo et al., 2009). Further, the US Census Bureau estimates that single-person households now account for 27.9 percent of the U.S. population (Table 1). Table 1: Single-Person Households 2010 2000 1990 1980 1970 1960 1950 1940 NC 27% 25.4% 23.7% 20.0% 13.3% 8.3% 5.4% 4.0% U.S. 26.7% 25.8% 24.6% 22.7% 17.6% 13.3% 9.3% 7.7% Source: US Census Bureau In addition, the Urban Land Institute (ULI) found that single adults (mostly male), under age 34 living with roommates and earning less than $40,000 (ULI, [...]