Amit Ahuja was living in Queens and like many others, was looking for an affordable place to rent in May of 2024. “I was living somewhere that wasn’t good at all, and desperately wanted to move,” shared Ahuja, 68, who was born in India. He explained that he heard of a coliving facility while at one of the day centers, and reached out. Unfortunately, there were no vacancies at the time and he was put on a waitlist. His luck changed in August 2024 when one of the residents moved out of state, and he got off the waitlist.
The Office of New York State Comptroller estimates that in 2022, 3 million New York households experienced housing insecurity, which is characterized by issues like burdensome housing costs, inadequate or unsafe living conditions, and the risk of eviction.
Minority populations are even more impacted. Black and Hispanic New York City residents are disproportionately affected by housing insecurity. The same Comptroller’s report showed that fifty-five percent of households headed by a Hispanic, and fifty percent of homes with a Black head of household, had at least one housing insecurity problem, in comparison with the thirty-one percent of households headed by a white person. Coliving can be a viable housing solution for aging New Yorkers, because when done correctly, can offer a unique and tailored blend of community living, affordability and support services.
A burgeoning issue that complicates the housing crisis in New York is the rapidly aging population. The 65 and older population has increased by 53% since 2000, making the growth of the older population almost 17 times faster than that of the city’s total population. Asian Americans, which includes Indians, are the fastest growing senior population in New York City. The Asian American and Hispanic senior population doubled between 2000 and 2023, and the Black senior population has increased by 68% during the same time period. The increasing number of immigrants arriving in New York City from Asia and Latin America, fueled this growth.
The convergence of aging, housing insecurity and immigration is a real issue in New York City.
Affordable housing for seniors is crucial as they often live on limited, diminished or no income other than social security benefits. With the average social security check for a 65-year-old being $1611 per month, and the median rent for a two bedroom in New York City at $3397 per month as of early 2025, housing security is a real problem for some of the city’s most vulnerable.
As the city grapples with this multilayered problem, one facility has presented a promising model for a solution. India Home, a nonprofit organization founded in 2007 and dedicated to addressing the needs of the South Asian senior immigrant community, operates the coliving facility Ahuja moved into, located in Queens, New York City.
“Coliving addresses social isolation, and housing needs while making use of existing housing in a quicker, more intimate and meaningful way,” said Shaaranya Pillai, deputy director at India Home.
A housing solution rooted in history and community
Coliving has historical roots in ancient agricultural communities, and communes of the hippie era, driven largely by the need for social contact, economic necessity, or a combination of both. Immigrant communities have a history of multigenerational families living under one roof. The concept of coliving draws inspiration from the traditional model of joint families, a practice that has been part of immigrant communities for centuries. A 2024 study of independent retired women in co-living communities found that many residents viewed aging as a continuation of meaningful living rather than a decline. They embraced opportunities for lifelong learning, connection, and contribution and saw themselves as active, engaged members of their community rather than passive recipients of care. This mindset is beneficial across the board, and appears to include those in co-living spaces as well.
Samra Rashid, social work director at India Home shared that “coliving homes promote social and emotional well-being by creating opportunities for interaction, engagement, and a sense of belonging.” Rashid went on to say that coliving provides activities and support systems designed to combat loneliness and isolation, while promoting independence and personal growth.
“Co-living works well when there are shared values and clear expectations,” explained Michelle Feng, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist with speciality training in geriatric psychology and medicine, “to maximize the positive impacts, it’s helpful to have a structured way for residents to participate, including organized community activities and shared responsibilities. This helps not just in clarifying roles and responsibilities, but can add to the sense of purpose and connection.”
Sudesh Kaboor, 84, also born in India, lives at the coliving facility in Queens operated by India Home. “It was an experiment. I was living with my son, and I wanted to try living alone. I wanted to also give my son’s family some privacy,” said Kaboor, an accessible place where her children can still visit every day.
The India Home coliving facility currently has four residents, all over 65. They all have individual rooms with their own bathroom, and share living spaces. The rent charged ranges from $1000 to $1400 per month. India Home subsidizes the cost to residents from their own funds, and also provides a weekly cleaning service and shelf-stable groceries.
“Coliving can be a culturally responsive way to support older adults, especially when shaped by the residents themselves,” explains Feng, “It’s most effective when residents help set the tone and norms of the community, and when cultural traditions are respected. That could include aspects like language access, familiar foods, and caregiving practices that reflect residents’ values and backgrounds.”
Residents go to the senior centers two days per week, and spend time at home or go out the rest of the days. Two of the four residents have jobs. Kaboor still cooks sometimes, favoring her native dhal and rice, and Ahuja loves spending time in the gardens outside. All four residents love playing card games together. “I love Rummy,” said Kaboor, “and sometimes I play it at the center too.”
Conflicts can occur at the coliving facility, like any other home.“In our unique living situation, we have encountered obstacles,” shares Rashid, “For instance, one senior may be an early riser, while another prefers to stay up late, leading to friction over daily agendas.” Conflicts can also arise from differences in cleaning standards, noise tolerance, temperature preferences, or personal space requirements.
While coliving for seniors may meet the social and cultural needs in some aging communities, it is not suitable for all. “Co-living may not work well for individuals who highly value personal control over their environment, struggle with compromise, or prefer solitude over shared responsibility,”said Feng.
“Those with advanced cognitive impairment without appropriate supports like dementia-informed design or caregiving infrastructure, can also pose challenges in co-living settings. This is particularly true when mutual participation is expected.”
India Home coliving facility does not admit seniors who need assisted living facilities, but do use their day centers to provide mental health support. With a predominantly South Asian community, discussions about mental health are not often welcome.
“To tackle this issue, we conduct monthly educational sessions on mental health at the day centers,” said Rashid. India Care Home also operates an adult daycare program that serves clients in the early to moderate stages of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The services include an on-site social worker who provides direct services three days a week for seniors, as well as support groups for their caregivers.
Access to affordable housing for all ages continues to be a problem in New York City. While there is no other senior living facility in New York comparable to India Home, there are housing developments in Florida that offer commercial versions of senior coliving. Creating coliving facilities with existing homes for older New Yorkers is possible, but until this and other suitable options are widely available, the NYC Department for the Aging has programs to help seniors with housing issues. NYC Aging works with the Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit and the Department of Finance to ensure that older qualified residents sign up for or renew their Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) Program and the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) Program.
Seniors at risk of eviction can get support through the Tenancy and Eviction Support Services (TESS). Additionally, there are three providers at the Legal Assistance for the Elderly Program that offer free legal services to older adults aged 60 years or older, in all five boroughs and in multiple languages. Assistance can include representation, advice, counseling, and/or referrals in housing matters such as landlord/tenant disputes, foreclosure, and utility shut offs.
Where and how older New Yorkers live has a big impact on their overall health, particularly mental health. According to the San Diego Psychiatric Society, feelings of loneliness are linked to a risk of developing dementia, and other forms of cognitive decline. Some studies show an increased risk of 31% for all-cause dementia, and a 15% increase for cognitive impairment. The bidirectional relationship between loneliness, depression and cognitive decline, causes one condition to exacerbate the other. All of this can lead to an increased risk for premature death. Coliving can decrease social isolation and afford more opportunities to connect with others in closer proximity.
The reporting for this article was supported by a journalism fellowship from the Gerontological Society of America, Journalists Network on Generations, and Commonwealth Fund.