According to Greenwald Research, 79% of Americans believe there is a retirement crisis, up from 67% in 2020. While my parents were safe and cared for, I couldn’t help but wonder why they and their best friends hadn’t planned to spend their golden years together sharing meals, playing games, laughing, and being companions.
This experience made me reflect on how we approach aging and living in the U.S. To understand the growing housing and care crisis, I spoke with caregivers and examined the business models behind current living options. Quickly, I realized systems are outdated and inadequate and the status quo needs to be reimagined for the next generation. As an entrepreneur and innovation advisor, my curiosity drove me to leave my corporate executive role to rethink how we live together, more affordably, especially as we age.
My reflections were shaped further by annual sabbaticals at MEA in Baja, where conversations with alumni revealed a shared desire for community-focused, affordable living. People are seeking options that foster intergenerational connection while lowering costs.
Through interviews with over 100 people aged 40 to 70, a common theme emerged: “We dream of a shared ‘golden gals (or guys)’ lifestyle, but we don’t see real-life examples. We need a roadmap to understand what’s possible within our group’s budget.” This feedback led to the creation of My Inspirement™, a platform designed to help individuals and groups discover and plan for innovative, intergenerational and co-op housing options focused on longevity, vitality, and connection.
Innovative Housing Models
Over the past year, I helped curate innovators shaping the future of intergenerational housing, supported by the talented team at Holding Company. Some of our insights recently appeared in Yes! Magazine. These pioneers are piloting exciting models that challenge traditional housing norms:
- Frolic Communities (Washington, California): Partnering with single-family homeowners to co-develop multi-family housing on their properties that are flexible and affordable for middle-income families.
- Nuuage CoLiving (Washington, D.C.) Offering beautiful co-housing rental options for older adults, providing both community and cost-efficiency.
- Upside (Florida): Streamlining the path to housing stability with assessments and efficient navigation, transforming each health plan member’s journey.
- Tiny Homes: Minimalist homes for sale or rent can be placed in a variety of locations—from rural areas to urban backyards—creating intentional communities.
- Casita Coalition (California): Advocating for building and retrofitting auxiliary dwelling units (ADUs) in middle-income neighborhoods, lowering living costs for homeowners and renters.
During the holidays, I toured the Baja Sage community, just a short walk from MEA. Friends had purchased homes around a shared pool, courtyard, and regenerative farm. Led by MEA co-founder Jeff Hamaoui, this community exemplifies the thoughtful, intentional living we envision on My Inspirement—blending sustainability, connection, and affordability.
Building for the Future
This Tuesday, Global Community Engagement Day, we’ll soft launch My Inspirement. It’s designed to guide users in defining their ideal community, establishing a budget, and connecting with trusted partners (developers, builders, architects, service providers) to bring a vision to life. Whether planning with family, friends, or like-minded individuals, the platform offers insights and resources to turn community-focused living into reality. We also plan to curate shared services, such as travel, care offerings and communication tools, ensuring future communities focus on a holistic lifestyle.
Looking ahead, My Inspirement plans to offer real estate investment opportunities, particularly for women and first-time investors. In Q425, 26% of small home inventory was bought by investors. Currently, only 3% of commercial developers and investors in the U.S. are women, and we aim to change that.
Many MEA alumni are eager to build or join co-living communities, both in the U.S. and abroad. Whether planning to build from scratch, retrofit existing homes, rebuild after a disaster, or create intentional communities in specific locations, My Inspirement wants to help. As a social enterprise, our mission is to provide inspiration and amplification for innovative co-op housing options and the resources needed to make these communities a reality—all while lowering the collective cost of living. If you’re an innovative developer, builder, family office, or planning to create a co-op community, let’s connect.
-Danielle
Danielle Cohn is the founder of My Inspirement™, a platform designed to guide individuals through life’s many transitions. A former Comcast NBCUniversal executive, tourism leader, and three-time founder, Danielle is also an MEA alum, innovation advisor, and entrepreneur-in-residence at Yale University.