Housemates
Introduction
Homeshare is when two people, who are unrelated, share life for mutual benefit. The Housemate might provide support and companionship to a Householder in return for low cost or free accommodation. Housemates can offer a more natural form of support in which a person with a disability shares their home with a person without a disability. In this way there is an exchange – a person with a disability might need help with household tasks and another person is looking for somewhere to live.
Key Points
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When looking for a Housemate, it's important take time to find the right match. This might mean considering personality, age, interests, values, warmth, availability etc.
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Typically a Homesharer offers 11-12 hours of support per week in return for free or reduced rent. To sustain a homeshare arrangement, it’s important that both people have free time and maintain other roles outside of the home.
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A mutually agreed homeshare agreement and discussing expectations at the start can be beneficial.
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A Housemate should not be confused with a paid support worker.
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To sustain the natural and typical nature of a homeshare arrangement, it’s important to consider that the household is home to both people.
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The NDIS will not pay rent. To overcome this, the Householder pays the Housemate a stipend or voluntary allowance. The Householder might then claim the hours as support through their NDIS Plan. Then the Housemate pays their portion of the rent.
Watch Videos
Homeshare - Doing Life with Jess
Produced by JFA Purple Orange
Meet Jessica and her housemate Coralie as they interview each other about life in their share house and why it's where they both want to be. Homeshare is based on relationship and is a more natural way for Jess to get the support she needs to live in her own home.
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The story so farÂ
by Dale Speed (Produced by Belonging Matters)
In this presentation, Dale and his housemate talk about sharing a home together.
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Enabling home
by Warren O'Brien (Produced by Belonging Matters)
Warren O'Brien used to live in a group home. Unfortunately Warren was very unhappy. With vision and determination things began to change. Warren now lies in his own home, with the support of housemates. This video includes interviews with Warren's mother Anita, his housemates and support workers, who have all been important in assisting Warren to create a home of his own.
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Fostering home with Mike
by Mike Reed (Produced by Belonging Matters)
Mike used to live in a group home. Given his complex needs this was not ideal. This video explore how Mike is supported to live in his own home with a range of supports, including 3 housemates without a disability.
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Look at my life now: step by step it's possible
by Warren O'Brien (Produced by Belonging Matters)
Warren O'Brien has successfully achieved living in his own home along with the support of housemates. This video explores Warren's home life together with his many roles in community. As Anita, his mother says, "Step by Step its possible"
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Setting up home for Alex
by Bridgette Sneddon (Produced by Belonging Matters)
In this presentation Bridgette Sneddon from New Zealand, describes the key steps in regard to assisting her son Alex live in his own home. Bridgette talks about their vision for an ordinary life and how this needed to come before funding. She also talks about planning, Circles of Support, housemates and much more!!
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Home sharing
by Michael Kendrick (Produced by Belonging Matters)
Increasingly home sharing is becoming an option for people with a disability rather than congregate care. In this interview Michael Kendrick discusses examples of successful home sharing and also provides some cautions.
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Home and belonging
by Cameron Skinner (Produced by Belonging Matters)
Cameron Skinner lived with his parents Maggie and Greg but always knew he wanted his own home. With the support of his folks, his friends, and some brilliant house mates, he is now thriving in his own home.
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It's a good life
by Alex Sneddon (Produced by Belonging Matters)
Alex shares his story about creating a good life. Through his presentation, Alex talks about his roles in his community, work, vision to live in his own home, supports and living with flatmates
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Dee's place
by Deearne Holmes (Produced by Australian Human Rights Commission and Belonging Matters)
When Dee turned 18 years of age she told her parents she was not going to live with them for the rest of her life. She did not want to live with a "carer", in a group home or with another person with a disability. She wanted to live in her own home just like her brothers. Watch this video to see what happened!
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Dearne's Vision to Live in her own home
by Jackie Holmes (Produced by Belonging Matters)
Jackie Holmes, in this presentation discusses how the vision for her daughter Dee to live in her own home started. She also speaks about finding a house, a flat mate and the right support workers all the while ensuring its Dee home and directed by or like a service.
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Read
Sharing lives
by Pat Fratangelo
In this article Pat Fratangelo looks at the idea of 'life sharing' whereby a person with disability lives with another person who does not in a mutually beneficial arrangment. She reflects on what people should consider and what she has seen work over her many years in developing them.
Click Here to Read - "Sharing lives"
Escaping mum and dad and sharing with a housemate!
by Cameron Skinner
In this article Maggie, Cameron's mum writes about some of the first steps they took as a family to assist their son Cameron to move into his own home
Click Here to Read - "Escaping mum and dad and sharing with a housemate!"
Being Warren's housemate
by Darren Hammer
In this article, Darren shares the reasons why became a housemate, his roles and his experience of being Warren's housemate
Some reflections on homeshare - a more natural way of support
by Kieran Jeff
Kieran Jeff’s talks about how Homeshare is a relationship based way of people living together for mutual benefit
Click Here to Read - "Some reflections on homeshare - a more natural way of support"
Home, connection and belonging: two homeshare stories
by Bess Harrison
Bess Harrison shares Melinda and Pete’s stories and how Community Connections in Canberra have assisted them and many others to find and live with housemates. Beth also shares insights and learnings about how people’s lives cross-pollinate in a more typical fashion, together with the challenges and benefits of home-sharing
Click Here to Read - "Home, connection and belonging: two homeshare stories"
My house, my choice, my home
by Anita O'Brien
Anita O’Brien shares the story of her son Warren. After a number of years of living despondently in a group home, he was supported by his loving family, a big vision and a number of wonderful housemates without a disability to find his own place to live, just like his brother! Recently, Warren and his housemate of four years, Darren, moved into a new unit together!
Click Here to Read - "My house, my choice, my home"
Liz and I
by Deearne Holmes
Dee and Liz share their story of living together, which happened after Liz answered an advertisement. Dee was looking for some assistance and Liz was looking for somewhere affordable to live. Both Dee and Liz wanted companionship!
Click Here to Read - "Liz and I"
Dee and I
by Elizabeth Jones
Dee and Liz share their story of living together, which happened after Liz answered an advertisement. Dee was looking for some assistance and Liz was looking for somewhere affordable to live. Both Dee and Liz wanted companionship!
Click Here to Read - "Dee and I"
Why housemates?
by Teresa Micallef
In this article, through Bec's story, Teresa Micallef explores the role of housemates - finding the right match, what works and challenges. She also shares key advice about home and housemates.
Click Here to Read - "Why housemates?"
Housemates - a more typical way of living
by Maggie Skinner
Maggie Skinner describes how her family had to reorientate their thinking and imagine how they could arrange personalised support to assist their son Cameron to live in his own home.
Click Here to Read - "Housemates - a more typical way of living"
There comes a time in every young man's life
by Pam Termont-Schenks
In this article Pam Termon-Schenks shares her experience of what her family has learnt over the past 8 years since Jamon moved into his own home. Jamon reflects on what having a home of his own means to him and how much he enjoys living with his housemate.
Click Here to Read - "There comes a time in every young man's life"
Exercises
Homeshare Guide
by NACBO
This guide explores Homeshare and its origins, its benefits and how it works. It then delves into the nature of the Homeshare exchange, the role of a Housemate, finding the right match, sharing together and developing intentional safeguards.
Homeshare Workbook
by NACBO
This workbook should be used with the accompanying guide, A Guide to Sharing with Housemates.