: 1176415203

Cebrittia Hinton, a 79-year-old widow who has lived for 32 years in a five bedroom home in Laurelton, was seeking to share her house. She wanted someone to be in the house with her who would provide companionship as well as help with household expenses.

Willie Mae George, who just celebrated her 87th birthday and still drives her car, was living with another host in Queens who died suddenly. It took Home Sharing only two days to find her another suitable living situation. Ms. George and Ms. Hinton hit it off immediately and Ms. George moved in the same day.

Home Sharing, New York Foundation for Senior Citizens’ free matching service, is a creative affordable housing option for older and young adults and for adults with special needs who want to be independent and have a sense of family at the same time. With rising rents and fuel costs, many New Yorkers are finding that they can’t continue to afford their own apartments or find affordable housing.

NYFSC has found that many older Home Sharing applicants do not want to move in with their adult children and younger applicants no longer want to live with their parents. “Many older adults feel that living with their children compromises their independence and young applicants see living with their parents in the same way,” says Linda Hoffman, the Foundation’s President. “While many ‘hosts’ and ‘guests’ stay close to their families, they find that Home Sharing creates a new kind of family for them – that is not the dictionary definition,” adds Hoffman. “The companionship and independence they gain from shared living are often as important as the financial relief they receive.”

Home Sharing, the only such service in New York City, matches “hosts” ages 60 and over who have extra private bedrooms in their homes or apartments to share with responsible, compatible “guests” ages 18 and over, seeking suitable, affordable housing. In addition, the program matches hosts ages 55 and over with developmentally disabled adults and adults with special needs capable of independent living.

Guests contribute toward hosts’ monthly household expenses and, in some cases, provide household help or other services in exchange for reduced payment. Benefits to both hosts and guests include easing financial burdens, reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness and providing companionship and a sense of security.

“I have been living alone and wanted someone in the house,” said Hinton. “Willie Mae and I have a lot in common. We both worked for the city in human services, we are interested in gardening, we like the same TV programs.” Hinton added that sometimes they eat their meals together.

“Willie Mae is bright and talkative. I like to be in her presence. We sit and talk a lot and watch TV together.”

George worked as an ambulance technician for 30 years before she lost her home. She could have moved in with her son in Queens but preferred to live independently. Home Sharing was the answer to her prayers.

“This has worked out so well for me,” she said. “I am very happy. Home Sharing went to work immediately to find another home for me. Ms. Hinton and I have a lot in common. She is from North Carolina and I am from South Carolina.”.

Here is how Home Sharing works: Professional social workers carefully screen applicants and conduct in-depth interviews to determine compatibility of potential hosts and guests and help to facilitate and implement matches. Prior to moving in, the service offers a license agreement to help hosts and guests feel secure in their shared arrangements. Once the match is made, the staff continues to provide follow-up services.

Home Sharing is funded by New York State and New York City legislators, New York State Office for the Aging, New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, New York City Department for the Aging and private contributions. To learn more about New York Foundation for Senior Citizens’ free Home Sharing service, please call 212-962-7559 or email agoldfield@nyfscltcop.org. You may also visit www.nyfsc.org.

Established in 1968, New York Foundation for Senior Citizens is the only non-profit, non-sectarian organization serving New York’s seniors in all five boroughs. NYFSC is dedicated to helping New York’s seniors enjoy healthier, safer, and more productive and dignified lives.