Frequently asked questions
General Questions
Life-sharing supports individuals with disabilities to live with qualified adults who provide support in their home.
Life-sharing means living with and sharing life experiences with supportive persons who form a caring household. Life-sharing is recognized as both a close personal relationship and a place to live. Life-sharers offer individuals the opportunity to be part of a family and to participate in community life.
Life-sharers and individuals are carefully matched and supported by qualified professionals to achieve the person’s program objectives. Birth families are encouraged to be part of the matching process and continue to have close relationships with individuals who choose a life-sharing option.
To learn more about Homies and stay informed about our latest news and updates, you can visit our website, sign up for our newsletter, and follow us on social media. We regularly share helpful resources, success stories, and updates about our program to keep our community informed and engaged.
In the event that a supportive roommate needs time off or has an emergency, Homies will assist in finding temporary support or respite care to ensure that the individual with disabilities continues to receive the support they need. We understand that life happens, and we are here to provide solutions and support during challenging times.
Your feedback and suggestions are invaluable to us. We invite you to share your thoughts with our team via email, phone, or through our website’s contact form. Your input helps us continually improve and better serve our clients.
We strongly encourage open communication between roommates to resolve disputes amicably. If necessary, our team can step in to provide mediation and support, helping both parties find a mutually agreeable solution that ensures a harmonious living environment.
We are dedicated to empowering supportive roommates with the knowledge and skills needed to provide the best care possible. We offer training materials, resources to educate supportive roommates about various disabilities, effective communication strategies, and best practices for assistance.
At Homies, we’re all about creating and maintaining great roommate relationships for everyone involved. We offer support by giving you access to helpful resources, friendly guidance, and regular check-ins to make sure everything is going smoothly in your living situation.
We know that open communication is key for a happy home life, so our team is always ready to listen and help with any concerns you may have. If there’s a disagreement or misunderstanding, we’ll step in and help find a solution that works for both parties.
We also understand that life happens and things can change. Our team is here to support any adjustments you might need to make in your living arrangement, whether that’s tweaking the way support is provided, offering extra resources, or even finding a new match if needed. Our main goal is to keep everyone in the Homies community feeling satisfied and successful in their roommate relationships.
California Regional Center. Homies is a Supported Living Services vendor.
We are primarily focused on providing our matchmaking services to individuals in Southern California. However, if you are already living with your roommate, we can still provide ongoing support and resources, regardless of your location. We encourage you to sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on when we will be available in your area.
It can take anywhere from 1 to 6 months to find your roommate! We suggest meeting several times prior to moving in together. This is something you don’t want to rush, our matchmaking team at Homies will help you find your perfect match!
Our team identifies each individual’s needs, preferences, location, and lifestyle to determine compatibility. We consider various factors such as personal interests, required support, and living habits, to create a strong foundation for a successful and lasting match.
Absolutely! This program is all about choice. If you have friends that you would like to live with, you can do that. Our team will work with you to find the best match for your living situation and preferences.
For Neurodivergent Individuals
There are many options for individuals who can become your supportive roommate, such as:
- A friend
- A neighbor
- A co-worker
- Family members (parent, brother, sister, cousin, etc.)
- Former or current staff
- Someone from your school or university
- Someone from your place of worship
- Someone who has a job during the day and wants to be a roommate in the evening
Homies believes in the importance of choice and will work with you to find a supportive roommate who is compatible with your lifestyle, interests, and needs.
Yes, family members are encouraged to be involved in the selection process for a supportive roommate. Their input and perspective can be invaluable in finding the best match for their loved one. Homies is committed to working closely with both the individual with disabilities and their family to ensure a successful and lasting match.
We understand the important role that family plays in the lives of individuals with disabilities. Family members are encouraged to actively participate in the matching process and maintain close relationships throughout the program.
While Homies doesn’t directly provide housing, our team is equipped to offer guidance and resources for finding accessible housing options that cater to your specific needs and preferences.
Absolutely. If you feel that your current supportive roommate is not the right fit, you can request a change. Our dedicated team will work closely with you to find a more suitable match and ensure a smooth and positive transition.
At Homies, we prioritize the safety of our participants and are dedicated to providing quality support. To ensure that supportive roommates are reliable and trustworthy, we follow a rigorous screening process. This includes verifying their full legal name and phone numbers and conducting comprehensive background checks through state criminal court systems and the Dru Sjodin National Sex Offender database.
We also provide comprehensive training to our supportive roommates, equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively work with people with disabilities. This training covers best practices, effective communication strategies, and essential caregiving techniques to ensure a high standard of care and support.
We also offer guidance and best practices for interacting with connections to promote safety and positive experiences. We enforce a zero-tolerance policy for behavior that violates our rules, and anyone engaging in inappropriate conduct will be flagged and permanently removed from our system. Our commitment to safety, security, and quality support remains a top priority throughout the entire roommate relationship.
For Supportive Roommates/Caregivers
If you are interested in becoming a supportive roommate, you can visit our website to begin the application process. Our team will review your information and reach out to discuss next steps, including a comprehensive assessment to determine your suitability and compatibility with potential roommates.
An individual can be disqualified based on information from California or any other state that includes:
- a conviction, admission, or Alford plea, to any of the crimes listed in California statutes
- a preponderance of evidence that the subject committed an act that meets the definition of any of the crimes listed in California Statutes
- a finding of substantiated maltreatment of a minor or vulnerable adult that is determined to be serious and/or recurring as defined in California Statutes
The tax law allows individuals who receive family foster care payments to exclude them from gross income if all the following conditions are met:
- Payments are made pursuant to a foster care program of a State, and payments are paid by a State or political subdivision thereof, or a qualified agency;
- and payments are paid to a foster care provider for the care of a qualified foster individual in the foster care provider’s home.
Since Homies is a service that connects two people that live in their own home on their own lease (and not in a group home or institutionalized setting), the income to the care provider is tax-free.
Remember to consult your tax professional with any tax questions.
Yes, you will share living expenses with your supportive roommate if you are living outside of your family home or if you move into their home. Many of our clients use their social security/disability benefits to help pay the costs of their living expenses, including rent payment.
The most important requirement is that supportive roommates are there overnight. Other duties might include: hanging out with your roommate, eating dinner together, cooking, going to sporting events together, transporting your roommate to their job or event, reminding your roommate to pay bills or take medication.
The responsibilities will vary depending on the individual. The goal is for this to be such a compatible match that it doesn’t really feel like work! You can think of it as living with a friend.
The annual salary for supportive roommates ranges from $10,000 to $50,000 tax-free. It will depend on how many hours of support a week you provide for your roommate.
Of course, a lot of individuals with disabilities are looking to live with families.
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.
DDS website (dds.ca.gov/complaints) and
the DDS phone number (916-654-1987)