As Nadia Abdullah and Judith Allonby recently found out, online matchmaking is not just for finding romance. After passing the background checks, the two were recently paired on the platform Nesterly, which matches compatible residents for mutually beneficial intergenerational housing arrangements.

Abdullah, 25, found the site during her attempts to find affordable housing prior to her graduation from Tufts University. She said, “It was a little frustrating because I couldn’t find anything in my budget.”

Allonby, 64, was looking for some companionship in her family home after both parents had passed away. Through their pairing on Nesterly, Abdullah began paying a modest rent for the first floor of the house in exchange for helping out with housework and errands.

Abdullah said, “It was perfect. Judith has become like my family.” And Allonby agrees. “It’s really nice to have somebody else around. Nadia brings a different atmosphere and energy than I had with my 88-year-old mother.”

According to Pew Research Center, multigenerational households are on the rise, having quadrupled in scope since the 1970s. According to a recent study, more than 60 million American adults live with other adults from a different generation--about 18% of Americans overall.

Donna Butts is executive director of Generations United. She said, “Sometimes, just having somebody around to walk the dog and have a meal with a few times a week can make a huge difference for an older adult.”

Possible Preaching Angle:

In a similar way, the family of God has no age boundaries. God calls us to love and welcome those who come across our paths.