Frequently asked questions

Life-sharing means an adult with a disability shares a home with a qualified adult who supports them. It is a real household and a real relationship. Our team matches the two people carefully, and families are encouraged to take part in matching and stay close.

A caregiver usually works a schedule. They clock in, complete tasks, and leave. A supportive roommate shares a home with you, along with meals and daily life. Support happens through living together, along with the specific supports in your service plan. The result is more independence, more dignity, and a real friendship.

Homies matches you with one supportive roommate in a regular home, not an institution, and there is no shift staff. You choose your schedule and get SLS support that fits you.

We check in regularly, listen to concerns, and mediate disagreements. If needed, we help change the living arrangement or find a new match.

We look at interests, support needs, location, lifestyle, and living habits.

Finding a match usually takes 2 to 6 weeks. From your first call to move-in, plan on 1 to 3 months. We suggest meeting several times before moving in.

No. Most pairs find a new place together. Sometimes one person moves into the other's home. Either way, both names are on the lease. We help with the search, but Homies is not part of any lease or rental agreement.

Matching is in California. If you already live with a roommate somewhere else, our support and resources are still open to you. Sign up for our newsletter to hear about new areas.

Through California Regional Centers. They have approved Homies to provide Supported Living Services (SLS).

No. Homies' services cost nothing extra. The person moving in still pays their own living expenses, like rent and utilities.

We encourage the roommates to talk it through first. If that isn't enough, our team mediates and helps them find a solution.

The supportive roommate works with the person's support team to find coverage, and our team helps.

Yes. Friends can live together, and we help find the best fit for everyone.

We can help make an existing arrangement official and set up the right support.

We consider cultural background, language, and personal preferences when we match.

Yes. Our team includes bilingual staff, and we work to make forms, communication, and support available in Spanish.

Options include: a friend, neighbor, co-worker, family members (brother, sister, cousin), former or current staff, someone from school/university, someone from place of worship, or someone with a daytime job. Homies works to find compatible roommates aligned with lifestyle, interests, and needs.

Every supportive roommate passes identity verification, then FBI and DOJ background checks, including state court records and the National Sex Offender database. Then come reference checks and a personality and compatibility assessment. Training is finished before any match is made. We enforce a zero-tolerance policy for rule violations.

Yes. We encourage families to help choose the supportive roommate.

Yes. If your supportive roommate isn't the right fit, you can ask for a change, and we'll find a better match.

We don't provide housing, but we can help you find accessible options that fit your needs.

Yes. We work with Regional Centers, landlords, and our relocation team to find homes that fit mobility needs and are close to transit.

Family members are encouraged to actively participate in matching and maintain close relationships throughout the program.

$20,000 to $50,000 a year, tax-free, funded through the Regional Center. Where you land in that range depends on how many hours of support your roommate needs.

Tax law allows family foster care payments to be excluded from gross income when: payments are made pursuant to a state foster care program by state/political subdivision/qualified agency; and payments go to a foster care provider for care of a qualified foster individual in the provider's home. Since Homies connects people living in their own home on their own lease (not group homes or institutions), care provider income is tax-free. Consult tax professionals about tax questions.

The key requirement is being home overnight. The rest varies by person: spending time together, cooking and eating dinner together, going to events, driving your roommate to work or events, and reminders about bills or medication. The goal is a match that doesn't feel like work, like living with a friend.

Apply on this website. Our team reviews your application and talks with you about next steps, including an assessment of fit with potential roommates.

Disqualification based on: conviction, admission, or Alford plea to crimes listed in California statutes; preponderance of evidence of committing such crimes; or substantiated findings of serious and/or recurring maltreatment of minors or vulnerable adults.

Yes, you have the freedom to pick your own hours. Most supportive roommates have a job during the day (9am-5pm) and provide support for their roommate in the late evening and early morning hours.

Yes, many supportive roommates work full-time remote jobs. You need to be home and able to help when needed, with cooking, companionship, or routines. We match on your availability and the other person's needs.

Yes. Many people with disabilities want to live with a family.

It can happen. Most pairs find a new place together. Sometimes one person moves into the other's home. Either way, both names are on the lease.

Yes. You share living expenses if you live outside your family home or move into their home. Many people use Social Security or disability benefits to cover their share, including rent.

Yes, the matching process is collaborative. You'll have the opportunity to meet potential roommates and decide together if it's a good fit.

Training in disability awareness, communication, and emergency procedures.

Ongoing support, mediation, and resources to help resolve any issue.