The 30-Somethings Who Fled Big Cities to Shelter With Mom and Dad

Younger adults from cities hard hit by COVID-19 are reconnecting with parents and hometowns amid the pandemic

(From left) Ken Frankenfeld stands with his daughter, Caroline Frankenfeld, his wife, Sarah Frankenfeld, his son, Kevin Frankenfeld, and Kevin’s girlfriend, Maddie Haller, outside the Frankenfelds’ home in Austin, Texas, on May 3, 2020. Kevin and Maddie live in New York City but left to quarantine at the Frankenfelds’ townhome after the COVID-19 pandemic worsened in New York. Sharon Jayson for KHN

It took three weeks, but Lawrence and Arlene Maze finally persuaded their younger son, Gregory, of Los Angeles, to get on a flight home to Austin.

“He basically shut his business down to come here and has to restart his business when it’s safe,” his father said. “It was a very difficult decision.”