A tiny solution for a big housing problem in Tahoe

NORTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – To most people, having a mother-in-law unit or guest house on their property would be considered a luxury, something not very common in the Tahoe region. But what if there were more guest houses built here, where local workers could live and thrive and contribute to our community?

It’s something that Amy Meierotto, a third-grade teacher at Kings Beach Elementary wants to see happen. Meierotto, a mom with a young son, currently lives in a small rental unit. Her son sleeps in the bedroom, and she sleeps in the kitchen area. “I have taught third grade at Kings Beach Elementary for 20 years. I love this community. I am a part of this community, and I want to stay here. But as my son grows, we have no real future here without secure housing,” says Meierotto.

Meierotto has tried the many housing programs available to her, but even with downpayment assistance and other incentives, she still cannot afford to purchase a home or find a larger long-term rental in the community she serves. That’s why she’s so interested in ADU’s – or accessory dwelling units. She has been talking to her neighbors about the benefits of building an ADU on their property. It wouldn’t just be a solution for her, she says. And ADU would add value to the homeowner’s property and provide housing for local families like hers. “If one of my neighbors was able to add an ADU to their property, I might have the opportunity to live and raise my son in a small home right here in our community,” she says.

It’s no secret that California, and particularly the Tahoe Truckee region, is in a housing crisis. Thousands of rentals and for sale units are needed for local workers and families to keep our communities thriving. Building large-scale developments is challenging, costly and time consuming. That’s where small-scale ADUs can provide a tiny solution to the big housing problem by sprinkling additional units into already existing neighborhoods.

Until very recently, it was difficult to build ADUs in the Tahoe area. But thanks to a slew of new California laws, all that has changed to encourage more ADU construction. It isn’t an easy process to convert space in an existing home or build a detached ADU in Tahoe, but it’s becoming easier.

The Tahoe Housing Hub has a new program called the ADU Accelerator Pilot Program that provides free technical and project management support from concept to completion. And if you’re curious about building an ADU, now is the time to reach out. “Winter is the perfect time to connect with us to explore your options and get the ball rolling. We can help with design, permitting, choosing a contractor, and securing financing so that the project is ready to start construction in the spring,” says Karolina Scarcia, Housing Development Project Manager at The Tahoe Housing Hub

“Each unit built creates a chance for an individual or family, like Amy Meierotto and her son, to live and work locally. We recognize that ADUs alone won’t solve our affordability challenges or the lack of diverse housing options that people want to live in, but they a meaningful step forward, offering real opportunities to house local teachers, utility workers, snowplow drivers, hospitality workers, and others who have no other choice but to relocate and commute,” says Scarcia.

Meierotto says she’s seen many of her colleagues at Kings Beach Elementary leave the area to find housing over the hill in Reno or Carson City. They try to make the drive back up to the school for work, but it usually only lasts a year or two. For Meierotto’s part, she says she’s hanging on in Kings Beach – for now. “I go through waves where I really believe I can hang on, but then reality hits and I think the only solution is to move to Reno. I think of it every night before I go to bed and every morning when I wake up.”

If you are interested in learning more about how you can convert an existing space (like a rec room, storage, crawl space, etc.) into an ADU or build one on your property, reach out to the Tahoe Housing Hub’s ADU Accelerator program. Contact tahoehousinghub.org, email info@tahoehousinghub.org, or call (530) 581-8711 to get connected with an ADU expert.

By Erin Casey

When we talk about housing in North Lake Tahoe, we often rely on statistics — how many units are needed, how many workers are commuting from out of town, how high home prices have climbed. But behind those numbers are real people, neighbors, and essential members of our community struggling to find a place to live.

Take Amy Meierotto, a third-grade teacher at Kings Beach Elementary. Amy has dedicated 20 years to our local students, yet she and her young son live in a small rental where he sleeps in the bedroom and she sleeps in the kitchen. Despite trying every available housing program, she still can’t find a more suitable affordable home in the community she serves. Her story is not unique. We hear from restaurant workers, firefighters, nurses, and small business owners facing the same impossible choice: stay and struggle or leave the place they love.

At Tahoe Housing Hub, we believe that when people share their stories, it puts a face to the housing crisis. These stories remind us that the need for housing isn’t abstract — it’s about the people we see every day, the people who keep our community running. And when we make space for their voices, it leads to better decision-making and more inclusive solutions.

One of the most immediate and impactful solutions we have are accessory dwelling units (ADUs) — small homes built on existing properties that provide much-needed rental housing while allowing homeowners to invest in their property. For someone like Amy, an ADU in her neighborhood could mean a chance to stay in Kings Beach, keep teaching, and raise her son in the community they call home. For other local workers, it could mean stable, long-term rental housing close to work. And for homeowners, it could mean extra income to help cover rising costs.

Unfortunately, ADUs have been an underutilized solution in Tahoe for years. In the past, permitting was confusing, regulations were restrictive, and financing was difficult. That’s changing. New state laws have made ADUs easier to build and local jurisdictions are beginning to recognize their value.

Still, the process can feel overwhelming, which is why Tahoe Housing Hub created the ADU Accelerator Pilot Program. We provide homeowners with free guidance and technical support, helping them navigate design, permitting, financing, and construction. Our goal is to make the process as simple as possible because every new ADU means one more home for someone who needs it.

ADUs won’t solve the housing crisis alone, but they are a meaningful step toward making Tahoe a place where people can live, not just visit. They are a practical, immediate way for homeowners to be part of the solution. And when people can picture who might live in an ADU they build — a teacher, a nurse, a local business owner, a young family — it becomes more than just an investment; it becomes a way to strengthen our community.

That’s why we’re working to bring these stories forward. We want homeowners, decision-makers, and the broader community to understand that behind every housing discussion are real people whose lives are directly impacted by the choices we make. We want to ensure that the voices of those who need housing are heard in the conversations shaping housing policy.

If you’re a homeowner interested in creating an ADU, or if you have a housing story to share, we invite you to connect with us. Visit tahoehousinghub.org to learn more about the ADU Accelerator Pilot Program and how we can work together to create housing solutions that keep our community thriving.

Housing isn’t just about numbers; it’s about our people, friends and neighbors in our community. Let’s make sure their voices are part of the conversation.

The Tahoe Housing Hub spoke with housing and lending experts to learn more about the specifics of ADU financing. This is a helpful discussion about the options available and financial incentives that might be on the horizon.