The Treehouse Model: An Intergenerational Community Supporting Youth in the Child Welfare System
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: In 2006, the Treehouse Foundation established an intergenerational community in Easthampton, Massachusetts, that includes a community center and 60 affordable homes where families raising children experiencing foster care live alongside adults over age 55. This Case Report identifies the model’s key components: intergenerational living, affordable housing, support services, and community building. It describes challenges including siloed funding, property maintenance, generational differences, and caring for residents as they age in place, concluding with the organization’s evaluation and expansion plans.
Authors: Cal J. Halvorsen, Ann Augustine
Institutions: Washington University in St. Louis, Karolinska Institutet
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7169668874