‘Micro-Apartment’ Trend Underscores Housing Crisis

SROs are making a comeback under a new name as the housing supply remains strained and costs soar.

1 minute read

March 22, 2024, 6:00 AM PDT

By Diana Ionescu @aworkoffiction


White three-story brick single-room occupancy hotel in downtown Los Angeles, California.

A single room occupancy hotel in downtown Los Angeles, California. | Downtowngal, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons / Rossmore Hotel, Los Angeles

The concept of rooming houses, otherwise known as single room occupancy units (SROs), is making a return under the guise of ‘micro-apartments,’ report Halie Golden and Claire Rush for the Associated Press. Nearly one quarter of renters nationwide are ‘extremely low-income,’ according to a report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

As more renters look to ultra-small units to cut costs, states like Oregon and Washington are enacting laws to make micro-apartments easier to build. The Washington bill requires cities to allow micro-apartments in multifamily housing with six or more units.

Popular in the early 20th century, SROs fell out of favor in recent decades when poor maintenance and associations with poverty led to more restrictive zoning laws that kept them out of many neighborhoods.

Housing advocates warn that, while micro-apartments offer one option for single residents and small families, affordable housing policy must also include larger units to accommodate larger families.

Thursday, March 21, 2024 in Associated Press via Yahoo News

Single-family homes in a suburban neighborhood in Florida.

New Florida Law Curbs HOA Power

The legislation seeks to cut down on ‘absurd’ citations for low-level violations.

June 16, 2024 - The Guardian

Multistory apartment building under construction.

New Tennessee Law Allows No-Cost Incentives for Affordable Housing

Local governments in the Volunteer State can now offer developers incentives like increased density, lower parking requirements, and priority permitting for affordable housing projects.

June 10, 2024 - Nooga Today

Aerial view of intersection in New York City with yellow cabs and zebra crosswalks.

Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths

Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, "Killed by a Traffic Engineer," has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths.

June 13, 2024 - Todd Litman

Brick high-rise apartment buildings in New York City

Study: Housing Crisis is About Affordability, not Supply

New research shows that there is no overall shortage of housing units, but all U.S. metropolitan areas face a severe lack of affordable units for low-income renters.

June 18 - University of Kansas

Couple on one side of desk with banker on other side looking at paperwork.

Are Race-Based Lawsuits Affecting Community Lenders?

Shelterforce spoke with community lending leaders and experts about the current mood across the sector. What, if anything, are organizations doing to avoid becoming the next target of conservative activists?

June 18 - Shelterforce Magazine

Rendering of Glory Park in Lewisville, Texas.

New Park Promotes Community and Connectivity in Lewisville, Texas

The city of Lewisville just celebrated the opening of Glory Park/Parque la Gloria, helping to improve park access and the quality of life for residents.

June 18 - Lewisville Leader

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.