A partnership for independent living
Find your supportive roommate
Eligible Exceptional Minds students can get matched with a supportive roommate and live independently, funded by their Regional Center.
Regional Center enrollment is required
Not all Exceptional Minds students are Regional Center clients.
Not sure if you qualify? Ask your family or Exceptional Minds staff.
What is life-sharing?
One person, one roommate, one home
You share a home with one supportive roommate who helps with your daily goals and becomes a friend.
You keep attending Exceptional Minds on your schedule. You can live walking distance from campus in Sherman Oaks if you want.
- Choose where you live
- Keep attending school on your schedule
- Choose your own roommate
- Build a genuine friendship
How it works
Tell us about you
Fill out the form below with your interests, goals, and what you want in a roommate. A family member or staff can help.
Meet our team
On a discovery call we get to know you, answer your questions, and see if life-sharing fits.
Find your roommate
We match you with a neurotypical supportive roommate on interests, lifestyle, and location. A friend or coworker you already know can apply too.
Find your home
Once your Regional Center funding is secured and your roommate is matched, we find an apartment near campus.
Move in
After move-in you get regular check-ins, and our team is available 24/7.
Requirements
You'll need to meet these criteria.
Basic requirements
- 18 years or older
- Registered student at Exceptional Minds
- Active Regional Center client (required for Homies to provide services)
- No aggressive behaviors toward others, and no active elopement risk
- No suicidal ideation or threat of potential self-harm
Independent living readiness
- Can be left alone for a few hours while your roommate is away
- Willing to share a living space (this is a roommate dynamic, not a private caregiver arrangement)
- Ready to build a genuine friendship with your roommate
- Your service coordinator or independent facilitator knows you want to use Homies
- Family or conservator support for the program
What to expect
Support and cost
We work with your Regional Center to build a support plan around your goals and daily life.
Your Regional Center funds it, so most families pay nothing out of pocket for support services.
- Support planned around your needs
- Funded through Regional Center, most pay nothing
- Homies finds your apartment after funding and roommate are secured
- 24/7 availability from the Homies team after move-in
Exceptional Minds students thriving with Homies
Meet some of the people who found a home and a friend through life-sharing
Frequently asked questions
What is life-sharing?
You share a home with a supportive roommate matched to you. Your roommate helps with your daily goals and becomes a real friend. Compared with a group home, you get more independence, privacy, and choice.
How much does it cost?
Your Regional Center pays for the program through Supported Living Services (SLS). You pay nothing for support services. You do contribute to rent, and how much varies from person to person based on your situation and Regional Center funding. We walk through the numbers on the discovery call.
Do I have to be a Regional Center client?
Yes. Not all EM students are Regional Center clients. If you're not sure, ask your family or Exceptional Minds staff.
How long does the process take?
It depends on matching, housing, and your Regional Center. We'll give you a realistic estimate on your discovery call.
Can I bring my own roommate?
Yes. If you know someone who'd be a great fit, they can apply through Homies.
What if the match does not work out?
We stay in it. Every pair gets a Discovery Navigator who checks in regularly, and there is a support line staffed around the clock. When friction comes up we mediate first, because most of it is ordinary roommate friction. If a match genuinely is not right, we look for a new one. That is rare. It has happened several times, and it has gone well. A second match is easier than the first, because by then we know much more about what the person wants and needs.
How are roommates screened?
Every supportive roommate passes background checks through state criminal court systems and the National Sex Offender database. They also complete training and interviews before being matched. We have a zero-tolerance policy for violations.
What if I have a Northern California Regional Center?
We serve Southern California Regional Centers today. If your service coordinator is on board, we can still make it work. It takes more coordination.
Where would I live?
That's your choice. Exceptional Minds is in Sherman Oaks, which falls under North Los Angeles County Regional Center (NLARC). If you're with Lanterman Regional Center, the catchment area covers Burbank, Glendale, and nearby cities. Some Regional Centers will allow you to stay with them even if you move temporarily for school.
How are Exceptional Minds and Homies affiliated?
Exceptional Minds and Homies operate as independent entities. This partnership is established solely to provide an opportunity for parents and students to access residential support services. Nothing in this agreement or associated communications shall be construed to create a joint venture, agency, or employer-employee relationship between Exceptional Minds and Homies.
Placement and Management: Exceptional Minds is not responsible for the placement, matching, or ongoing management of Homies residents or supportive roommates. All housing arrangements and roommate dynamics are managed exclusively by Homies or the participating individuals.
Operational Independence: Homies is not responsible for the operations, curriculum, or management of Exceptional Minds, including its school and studios.
Service Coordination: While Exceptional Minds may facilitate the introduction to Homies' services, all specific service requirements, including Regional Center compliance and individual support hours, are the sole responsibility of Homies and the respective Service Coordinators.
By participating in this program, parents and guardians acknowledge that Exceptional Minds assumes no liability for the actions, omissions, or residential outcomes associated with Homies. Conversely, Homies assumes no liability for the educational or vocational services provided by Exceptional Minds.
Request a free call
Tell us who this is for. Someone from our team will call you within 1 to 2 business days.