Life-Sharing: California's Newest Way to Live Independently
Life-sharing pairs an adult with an intellectual or developmental disability with a vetted, compatible roommate in a real home — not a group home, not a facility. Funded through California Regional Centers.
- 95%+ match success
- 100+ matches across California
- Funded through Regional Centers
What is life-sharing?
Life-sharing is a supported living model where an adult with an intellectual or developmental disability shares a home with a carefully matched, vetted roommate who provides personalized day-to-day support. It's one person, one roommate, one real home — in the community.
Unlike a group home, life-sharing doesn't run on rotating shift staff or a licensed facility model. The supportive roommate is matched on personality, lifestyle, and interests. They cook dinner together, take rides to work, hang out in the evening. Support shows up inside everyday life, not on top of it.
In California, life-sharing is delivered as Supported Living Services (SLS) and funded through Regional Centers — which means most families pay nothing out of pocket for the support.
- One person, one supportive roommate, one real home
- Matched on personality and interests, not shift availability
- Funded as SLS through California Regional Centers
- An alternative to group homes and licensed facilities
How life-sharing works
Four steps from referral to move-in — with support that doesn't stop after the keys are in hand.
Referral
A Regional Center service coordinator, family member, or self-advocate reaches out to Homies. We complete a detailed intake to understand who the person is — not just their support needs, but their interests, routines, and what they want their life to look like.
Match
We find a rockstar roommate matched on personality, lifestyle, and interests — not just availability. Every roommate is screened through state criminal court systems and the National Sex Offender database, with reference checks and in-depth interviews. Quality over speed, always.
Meet
You meet potential roommates in person, take your time, and have full choice in the decision. We facilitate multiple visits before anyone commits. If it's not a fit, we keep looking.
Move In
You move into a real home together — an apartment or house in the community, not a facility. Our team handles the transition and stays involved with monthly check-ins, 24/7 availability, and continuous support for both roommates.
Who life-sharing is for
Life-sharing fits adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who want more independence than a group home offers but still need consistent, real support to thrive day to day.
It's not a fit for everyone — and that's okay. The strongest matches happen when the individual wants this, not just their family. The right candidate has some kind of daily purpose, openness to sharing a home, and a Regional Center service coordinator who can support the referral.
- Adults with IDD seeking independence outside a group home
- Families exhausted by group home churn and shift turnover
- Regional Center clients with SLS funding (or eligible for it)
- Self-advocates ready to choose where they live and who they live with
- Adults with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, or other developmental disabilities
What's included in a Homies life-sharing match
Not just a roommate — a vetted, supported, ongoing arrangement built for the long run.
24/7 Support
Our team is reachable around the clock for anything from a quick question to an urgent need. You're never on your own.
Thorough Vetting
Every roommate is screened through state criminal court systems and the National Sex Offender database, plus reference checks and multi-stage interviews.
Program Manager
A dedicated program manager who knows your loved one, coordinates with the Regional Center, and is the single point of contact when anything comes up.
Monthly Check-Ins
Regular visits and reviews after move-in to make sure the match is thriving — not just surviving. Families stay informed every step of the way.
Real Home, Real Community
A house or apartment in the community — not a group home or licensed facility. The roommate is a partner, not staff on a shift.
Regional Center Funded
Homies is a vendored Supported Living Services (SLS) provider. Most families pay nothing out of pocket for the support services.
How life-sharing is funded in California
Homies is a vendored Supported Living Services (SLS) provider. The support side of life-sharing — the roommate's compensation, our program management, vetting, training, ongoing oversight — is funded through your California Regional Center.
For most families, that means nothing out of pocket for the support. Rent is handled case-by-case based on the individual's income, SSI, and Regional Center contribution — it's never a fixed 50/50 split. We walk through the exact financial picture for your situation on the intro call.
- Support services funded through Regional Centers
- Most families pay $0 out of pocket for support
- Rent calculated case-by-case (never a flat split)
- Official SLS vendor across 11 Regional Centers in California
The numbers behind life-sharing
Real matches, real outcomes, real homes across California.
After 22 years, Gina got to be just a mom
For 22 years, Gina was Abby's caretaker, best friend, and mom — all at once. Every meal, every appointment, every emergency ran through her. The day Homies matched Abby with Katie, that changed.
Now Abby has her own life, her own routines, and a roommate who shows up the way a real friend does. Gina still calls every day. She just doesn't have to do it all anymore. That's what a good life-sharing match looks like.
Life-sharing: frequently asked questions
The questions families and self-advocates ask before getting started.
Learn more about life-sharing
What Is Life-Sharing? A Guide for Families
A deeper guide to life-sharing, how it compares to other options, and what to expect.
Read articleHow Homies Works
The full process from first call to move-in, with timelines and what to expect.
Read articleFor Regional Center Clients
How to get matched with a supportive roommate through your California Regional Center.
Read articleReady to learn if life-sharing is the right fit?
Reach out for a free intro call. No pressure, no commitment — just a real conversation about your situation and what's possible.