How building more backyard homes, granny flats and in-law suites can help alleviate the housing crisis

A newly built accessory dwelling unit in Los Angeles. Alisha Jucevic/The Washington Post via Getty Images

To many people, the image of a nuclear family in a stand-alone house with a green lawn and white picket fence still represents a fulfillment of the American dream.

However, this ideal is relatively new within a broader history of housing and development in the U.S. It’s also a goal that has become increasingly unattainable.