Cities, counties and states have been implementing and using #homesharing programs for many years with varying degrees of success. The Philadelphia Citizen published an article recently about a SHARE program in Philadelphia.
Counties in Pennsylvania use area aging agencies to operate the programs. Philly is one place where the program struggles to connect people but those who have used the program hail the benefits. ““For anyone looking for companionship or a place to live, the homeshare program is the greatest one that I’ve seen,” Sherry Woodside says. Woodside has lived with Janet Porter, a homeowner in Philly who had been struggling to make ends meet after a fire ravaged her home.
The rate of poverty among aging Pennsylvania residents has increased by 9.6 % which is making it difficult for seniors to remain in their communities and homes they have lived in for years.
The SHARE program launched in Bucks County a year ago and has made six matches. Despite a waiting list of 150 people seeking safe affordable housing, but with only 13 prospective host/providers many seekers continue waiting.“There’s a big disparity there,” says Shannon Walsh, Bucks’ SHARE counselor. “We’re helping people who really, really struggle to find safe housing in this economy,” Walsh says.
Has your area had success encouraging house rich homeowners to open their doors to #sharedhousing? Have you participated as a host/provider or seeker? Let’s hear your thoughts about filling empty bedrooms and how organizations should go about helping make it happen.
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