As the country faces an enormous housing shortage and skyrocketing cost of living, local governments are turning to ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) as a potential solution. Ryan O’Connell launched “How to ADU” to help homeowners tackle complicated projects like building ADUs in their backyards.
His company creates free educational videos and articles to empower homeowners to tackle the nation’s housing crisis with ADUs. The business aims to fight the housing shortage while promoting accessible and affordable housing for all.
The idea for the company was sparked by Ryan’s experience as an employer who brought team members from around the world to work in Napa, California. Again and again, he saw some of his best team members leaving when they could no longer afford to live in California. This realization drove Ryan to take action on the housing crisis, recognizing its far-reaching impact on everything from health equity to economic and educational opportunities. With this in mind, he launched How to ADU to educate individuals on building ADUs through various resources, from YouTube videos to in-depth articles and one-on-one conversations with Ryan.
One of the distinguishing features of the organization is that Ryan assumes the role of an educator rather than a builder or contractor, which makes him a valuable resource for the community. Through his Facebook group, which has over 26,000 members, homeowners can share authentic information about their struggles and experiences while planning and building ADUs. In contrast to other groups in the same niche, often full of vendors and salespeople, Ryan’s group is designed primarily for homeowners to share practical information and support with each other.
Ryan’s passion for educating homeowners on ADUs has significantly impacted the community, as evidenced by positive feedback from viewers of his YouTube channel. One viewer even commented, “Thanks, Ryan, for the information. I own land in Cypress, and the city’s ADU rules were unclear. They measured the height limit from the roof’s top, which would have required costly and complex walls. But after learning about AB 2221, we discovered we could add 2 feet for the roof pitch. This video saved me thousands of dollars.”
In addition, his advocacy to promote ADUs and educate homeowners has caught the attention of various government agencies. The County of Napa recognized Ryan’s efforts and hired him to create educational videos for their forgivable loan program. His advocacy and communication work has also led to the opportunity to organize a tour of ADUs in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Ryan’s work with How to ADU has significantly impacted homeowners nationwide, explicitly concerning a $100 million grant the state of California created to promote ADU construction. Initially, the grant had barely distributed 30 grants in its first eight months, indicating a need for more awareness among homeowners. Following the initial slow uptake of the grant, How To ADU’s advocacy work and social media updates proved to be a game-changer. The state tweaked its grant program and thousands of homeowners flocked to take advantage of this invaluable resource, leading to millions of dollars being allocated for ADU construction.
“Ultimately, our goal is to build a community where normal people across the country become local experts on ADUs, help their friends build them, and create a movement to benefit everyone. We want to make ADUs common in housing and real estate,” says Ryan.
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Ryan envisions a future where housing and zoning laws will be deregulated, enabling communities to rebuild in the way that best suits their needs. His long-term vision aims to make a difference in people’s lives by giving them access to affordable and comfortable housing while fostering community growth. By empowering homeowners and making ADUs accessible to everyone, Ryan aims to tackle the housing crisis, one backyard at a time.