Economy unites generations; Parents, grandparents live together to make ends meet

HACKENSACK, N.J. — Cash-strapped adults who long ago left home are moving in with their parents and other relatives to save money in the recession.

These new housemates report sweet gratitude for family bonding as well as squabbles over toothpaste spit in the bathroom sink.

Consider Angy Lebowitz, a cheery 88-year-old. Her Social Security and veteran's pension covered only two-thirds of her roughly $5,500 monthly bill for assisted living. Her savings were dwindling fast.

Meanwhile, her niece's family took a huge hit when the stock market tumbled and had to put their Teaneck, N.J., house on the market. Then they realized if Lebowitz moved in and they pooled resources, they could all help each other.

"It's a big undertaking but we're very lucky we have this opportunity to pull together," said her 68-year-old niece, Ellen Schwartz. "I hope we can balance everybody's need for privacy."

The steep recession, the collapse of retirement portfolios, the increasing needs of baby boomers' fragile parents and the high cost of residential care are pushing more of the elderly back in with younger families, said James W. Hughes, dean of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University.

At the same time, he said, more middle-aged people who can't afford their own homes after losing a job or getting divorced are moving back in with their parents -- a key safety net for Lebowitz as New Jerseyans face the second-highest housing costs in the country, after Hawaii. Sometimes they move back to mom's house with their own kids in tow.

It's too early for data to illustrate the trend in New Jersey, but Hughes points to widespread foreclosures as a clue.

In 2008, there were 8,900 foreclosure filings in Bergen and Passaic counties, according to an analysis of RealtyTrac information by The Record. Another 1,900 were filed in the first quarter of this year. Many families who lost homes likely found shelter with kin.

"People used their house as an ATM and maxed out on credit and have no savings to fall back on," Hughes said. "Now that we're in a recession they're in deep trouble."