An initiative led by the Community Design Collaborative, a non-profit that partners with communities to envision the environment where they live, work, play and thrive.

What is this initiative about?

Finding Philadelphia’s Missing Middle Housing initiative is a community-centered campaign to raise awareness and increase access to affordable housing options across our city. We’re working to fill the gap between single-family homes and large apartment buildings with alternative housing types like duplexes, courtyards, live-work, townhomes, and accessory dwelling units (ADUs).

What is Missing Middle Housing?

It refers to housing types like duplexes, triplexes, and townhomes that fall between single-family homes and large apartments. These housing options, once common, have declined due to zoning changes, car-centric development, and rising land costs. MMH offers affordable, walkable, and community-focused housing, supporting diverse households such as young families, seniors, and multigenerational alternatives.
As communities across the U.S. address the housing crisis, many are revising zoning codes to reintroduce these options, promoting sustainable, affordable living and discouraging car dependency.

Why do we need to raise awareness?

Raising awareness about affordable housing is crucial as many Philadelphians face instability due to rising housing costs and income inequality, particularly in underinvested communities. Increased awareness helps residents and policymakers understand available solutions and advocate for diverse housing options. Public understanding is vital for gaining support for innovative strategies like Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and missing middle housing, which may encounter resistance due to unfamiliarity. This awareness promotes support, dispels misconceptions, and encourages constructive civic dialogue on equitable development.

Who is most affected?

1. Low- to Moderate-Income Residents: People earning lower wages, especially in service industries or on fixed incomes, are hit hardest by limited affordable options.

2. Seniors and Aging Residents: Philadelphia has one of the largest populations of elderly residents in the country. According to an Inquirer article of 2023, “Philly is one of the worst big cities for aging in place.”

3. Young Adults and First-Time Renters/Buyers: College graduates, young professionals, and those just entering the housing market often can’t afford single-family homes but don’t want—or need—high-rise living.

4. Multigenerational and Extended Families: Families who want to live near each other—or under one roof—often struggle to find housing that accommodates their needs.

5. Small Business Owners and Creatives: Live-work units and mixed-use housing can support local entrepreneurs, artists, and freelancers by combining living and working space affordably.

6. Communities at Risk of Gentrification: In neighborhoods undergoing rapid development, the absence of diverse housing types leads to displacement of long-time residents.

An initiative led by the Community Design Collaborative, a non-profit that partners with communities to envision the environment where they live, work, play and thrive.

Philadelphians deserve walkable communities and affordable housing, don’t you agree? Your opinion matters, we want to hear from you! Let your voice be heard by completing this brief but important community survey.