Eliminating homelessness, one shared home at a time

Introduction:

Shared housing offers one solution to the homeless crisis. Some of the benefits of shared housing are: Increased access to a larger, more diverse, housing market Reduced housing cost burden Increased social networks and decreased social isolation

What is Shared Housing?

At the most basic level, shared housing is having a roommate. Shared housing is two or more people who live in one housing unit, sharing costs. Residents share costs and cover the rent through SSI or disability benefits, or by getting a job. Members have a shared room, in a residential home, with shared areas including: kitchen, dining room, and living room, yard. House chores are divided among participants. The house that is fully furnished, cleaning supplies, Wi-Fi and television. There are men’s homes and women’s homes.A peer advocate is assigned to each house whose primary responsibility is to help residents work through issues.

Why Shared Housing?

Many communities simply don’t have enough housing to give every homeless person his or her own apartment. Shared housing can get people off the streets within a few days, because there are no long waits for government-approved vouchers. Shared housing costs are far lower than building individual apartments at $700,000 each.

Shared housing is NOT a lesser option. Living with other people – has extraordinary social, mental, and emotional benefits and most importantly provides a sense of community and a HOME.

Shared housing has been successful for years, and there are various models.

SHARE! Collaborative Housing is a nationally-recognized and evidence-based model and has been housing people since 2005.