Quote from @Brandon Robertson: Yes, please come back and update us.This is a great example of why it's important to understand local law.

You can also contact a local alcoholics anonymous or other organizations and let them know you have space available for anyone living sober.

The Yale Law Journal article, "Zoned Out: How Zoning Law Undermines Family Law’s Functional Turn," highlights this issue, noting that while family law has evolved to recognize diverse family structures, zoning laws have lagged behind, potentially hindering innovative housing solutions like co-living.Challenges for Co-Living InvestorsFor real estate investors interested in co-living, these restrictive definitions can lead to:Legal Barriers: Difficulty obtaining permits or approvals for co-living spaces due to non-compliance with traditional family definitions in zoning codes.Operational Challenges: Potential fines or legal disputes arising from housing arrangements that don't conform to local zoning definitions of a household.Market Limitations: Reduced ability to meet the growing demand for affordable, shared housing solutions.Advocacy for ReformThe Bloomberg article, "Why Are Zoning Laws Defining What Constitutes a Family?"

My thought is to help him out by going in 50-50 partnership for many reasons: half down payment, half capex expense, strong co-signer on loan, me being local to investment property to take care of little things that need attentions (he will be out of state for his job/I will have PM), etc.  1. 

Of course there could be some other local businesses that might would want to use or share a couple of the offices that would possibly increase revenue. 

Since hard money eats into profits, consider private lenders, local banks, or partnerships for lower-cost funding.

My main Partner is Chase because gives the biggest limits great when it comes to building a relationship and getting BLOCs and other things also would recommend local credit unions biggest thing you always need to figure is the banks Cap of what they are willing to lend until they need everything Chase for example is 150k Citizen Bank if in area a great one for Blocs only require bank statements to calculate how much you can qualify for.

I'm a local realtor and investor, so I’d love to help you find the right property and navigate the market.

You are going to pay more for something new so you might take a look on the local Craigslist, FB marketplace or OfferUP and see what is out there.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel, be strong... and then maybe call your local councilperson to tell them about the horrible situation you're in.