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THE JOURNEY TO COMMUNITY HOUSING WITH SUPPORTS
Shared Living with Technological Supports Model: Lenora’s Home Lenora shares her condominium with two women who also are deaf. They assist Lenora to live as
independently as possible despite her multiple disabilities and intensive support needs. Although not everyone with a disability prefers to live with others who do, Lenora enjoys sharing her home with housemates who can communicate with her in sign language. To accommodate hearing impairments, they installed additional equipment such as smoke alarms with flashing lights. Lenora’s bed shakes if smoke triggers the alarm. The phone and television display the words being spoken.
SHARED LIVING ALSO KNOWN AS HOME SHARING As more people find managing the finances of home ownership a challenge, home sharing has gained popularity. Some homeowners have a spare room to rent. An owner may struggle to afford the costs of taxes and property maintenance. Others find it difficult to manage the responsibilities to upkeep a home. They may need assistance with household maintenance tasks. They may be looking for companionship. Those seeking home sharing opportunities may be looking for an affordable place to live and have much to offer as a housemate. Shared living matches these people and their needs. Agencies exist to match seekers with home providers who are interested in sharing their home or apartment as well as the expenses and responsibilities. These agencies conduct screening and background checks of the occupants. For more information visit WWWHOMESHARINGORG . On their own or with the assistance of an agency, the home sharers can sign formal agreements delineating the responsibilities of each party. A model contract for shared living is available at www. ANCORORGRESOURCESBEST PRACTICES . Potentially, this housing option meets many needs through these matches. For example, a person with I/DD may lease an apartment and want to share expenses with someone who can assist with supports. An elderly homeowner might welcome an able-bodied person with I/DD to assist with household duties. There are endless possibilities. With the assistance of an agency, a more formal prescribed process facilitates this match. For more information visit WWWNATIONALSHAREDHOUSINGORG . A Guide for Shared Living specifically for people with disabilities is available at: WWWNASDDDSORGPUBLICATIONSNASDDDS TITLES FOR PURCHASESHARED LIVING GUIDE Check local requirements because some towns may have ordinances that restrict unrelated persons from sharing/subletting their home.
Shared Living with Live-in Supports Model: Eve’s Home
Eve sustained a traumatic brain injury as the result of an automobile accident. She lived for three years in a nursing home where she received therapy as well as total physical and nursing care. Her dream was to return to live in her own home. With determination, she worked through intensive physical, occupational and speech therapy to regain some of the abilities that she lost because of her head injury. A team helped Eve plan for the services needed to live in her own home and funded her transition through the I Choose Home NJ program. For more information visit WWWICHOOSEHOME NJGOV . Through this program and with Medicaid waiver funding, Eve could live more independently in the community. To accommodate her motorized wheelchair, adaptations were made including ramps and bathroom modifications. Because of memory deficits and physical disabilities, Eve could not live alone. Eve hired Olga to live with her. Olga attends to Eve’s care needs and household responsibilities. Eve and Olga share companionship with each other and they have developed a close bond.
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