Accessory Dwelling Unit - ADU - is an awful name for a wonderful and charming little home.  A tiny house.  A backyard shack setup for one person to live in.   What is so wonderful is it can provide a home for a young person going to school, or a retired old person who needs very little space.  What is also so wonderful is it can provide income to the home owner of the normal house on the property - income that may be vital to normal living or just very appreciated for augmenting a bare living salary. 

Now here is an article from last week where President Obama is encouraging cities across the country to enable ADUs.  Here in Bellingham there is hope we may have a decent law enabling them while still being considerate of how they will impact neighborhoods.  I'll not go into any of the issues, nor of how city hall has handled this so far, as this is not an article readers can comment on.  

What is interesting is this is a national movement and even the president is behind it.  It can provide low cost shelter for those who need or prefer that while providing income for single family home owners - instead of large apartments invading neighborhoods with revenue going to the millionaire owners of the apartments.  A nice prospect.  

Maybe we can call them Backyard Sheds.