I turned my garage into an apartment I rent out. It helps me afford retirement and almost paid off my mortgage.

Mon, 02/19/2024 - 06:23

Helen Boxwill in front of her home. — Helen Boxwill built an accessory dwelling unit, or ADU, on her property in Long Island, New York, for rental income.
Courtesy of Helen Boxwill

Helen Boxwill, 77, refinanced her home to build an accessory dwelling unit on her New York property.
She rents out the ADU for rental income and has had three tenants over about 20 years.
Boxwill said the ADU "has been a blessing" whose revenue helped pay taxes and other bills.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Helen Boxwill, a 77-year-old retired educator who runs a nonprofit that supports education and water access in Ethiopia and Burundi. Boxwill built an accessory dwelling unit on her property in Huntington, New York, in 2003. The essay has been edited for length and clarity.