By: Teresa Wiltz, Stateline, The Pew Charitable Trusts

WASHINGTON, D.C. — After her daughter died from lupus, Charlene Green was left caring for her two grandchildren. But their housing situation was precarious at best: mold and mildew everywhere, ceiling caving in.

To get her landlord to make much-needed repairs in their Washington, D.C., apartment, the 62-year-old withheld rent — only to be threatened with eviction.

So, when her grandson told her about Plaza West, a new affordable housing complex that reserves 50 of its 223 units for grandfamilies — families made up of grandparents raising grandchildren — Green said it felt godsent. Now, she lives in a modern three-bedroom apartment in a building that combines the companionship of other grandparents with babysitting and tutoring on site, provided by the city and building management.

“I never would have thought I’d be living here,” said Green, who works part-time cleaning offices when she isn’t taking care of her 10-year-old grandchild. Her 21-year-old grandchild also lives with her. “Where I was living before wasn’t worth paying rent.”

More grandparents are raising their grandchildren, in large part because of the opioid epidemic. Some, like Green, find themselves parenting again because of chronic illness, incarceration or homicide. More than 20% of grandparents raising grandchildren are living below the federal poverty line. More than a third of them are over 60. Most are single.

Click here to read more.