More Households Make Room for Extended Family

American households are becoming more multi-generational, according to a new report released Tuesday by the U.S. Census.

The number of heads of households who share their homes with their parents, brothers and sisters, and other relatives grew 42 percent from 2000 to 2007

The census finds a 75 percent increase in parents under the age of 65 who are now living with their adult children. In all, 3.6 million American households have made room for older parents. 

By state, Alaska had the highest number of parents moving in with their adult children – an increase of 167 percent, according to the data. South Dakota had the lowest – up 7 percent.

Sharing a home represents an old-fashioned approach to economic challenge, experts point out. Donna Butts, executive director of Generations United, an advocacy organization. 

"It is evolving in some ways back to how families used to live. That is, they're living in multi-generational households, " Butts said.

Source: ABC News, Barbara Pinto (09/23/08)