Many older adults in the Atlanta community live independently but feel isolated. Home sharing programs match adults who may have more house than they need with adults who are seeking affordable housing. Our program carefully matches each homeowner and seeker with a safe, vetted home sharing partner. This matching provides companionship to each participant, and agreements on rent and home responsibilities are unique to each match.

Home sharing participants are advised not to provide hands-on personal care such as assistance with bathing, dressing, lifting, medications and the like. Our program is nonsectarian and COVID-19 precautions are followed.

More than 33% of adults aged 45 and up report feeling lonely.

About 25% of adults aged 65 and up are considered socially isolated.

Benefits of home sharing include:

• It can be less expensive to live with other adults: age in place while sharing housing costs, utilities and often meals.
• There will be another adult to share chores and responsibilities and to provide a helping hand, when needed.
• Living with another person can provide a real peace of mind and sense of security since someone will be around more often should he or she be needed to help with an emergency.
• You gain companionship and people to potentially share holidays and special occasions.
• The gained sense of community is good for mind, body and spirit; living with other people is one way to create such a valuable support group.

Each person attending will receive a copy of Benson participant Chris Lambrecht’s book, Living Among Friends.

Read more at JF&CS Atlanta | homeshare (jfcsatl.org)