From Living with Mom at 26 to Living Independently in San Diego

Devin was 26 years old, living with his mom and brother in Menifee, a small town in Riverside County. He'd been working as a direct support professional in a group home with four clients. Showers, behavioral episodes, 40-hour weeks, clock in, clock out. He knew the field. He was good at it. But the job wasn't giving him a path out of his parents' house.

"I'm 26, so I was ready to get out. But I wanted to make sure it was going to be something that could actually get me there," Devin told the Homies team.

He didn't want to live alone. He wanted to live with someone around his own age, in a situation that felt like real life. He started searching on his own and found Homies. It was the first opportunity that checked every box: a way to move out of his mom's house, keep doing the work he loved, and have the stability to make it all possible.

He did his homework. From the time he signed up to the day he moved in, about four months passed. Interviews, conversations, getting to know Jake before committing. Devin wasn't rushing. He was making sure this was the right move.

Jake is 25 and lives in Chula Vista. He attends an art day program three times a week, works out twice a week, and goes to a weekly growth group at his church with other young adults. He loves going to Padres games with his dad, enjoys cooking, gaming, and learning new things. He has Erb's palsy in his left arm and doesn't always initiate social activities on his own, but he jumps in when someone invites him. He gets a little nervous in large crowds and prefers smaller groups.

His profile says it simply: "I look forward to meeting new people and making some friends."

Jake was ready for more independence. His mom, Polly, was ready too, but she needed to know the person by his side was someone she could truly trust. Not just a caregiver. A real match.

Finding Each Other

When the Homies team reviewed Devin and Jake's profiles, the overlap was hard to miss. Both love gaming, cooking, and exercising. Both are comfortable with alone time but enjoy being around people. Both prefer face-to-face communication and keeping a clean space. Devin described himself as tech-savvy and a natural teacher. Jake was looking for companionship, help learning new skills, social activities, and someone good with technology.

But matching at Homies goes deeper than shared interests.

Taylor, the lead matchmaker, spent time getting to know both of them. Not just what kind of support Jake needed, but who he is as a person. Not just Devin's experience in the field, but his temperament, his patience, what kind of roommate he'd actually be day to day.

Polly told the team afterward that the matching blew her away. Not just the result, but the approach. The time Taylor spent understanding who Jake actually is, not just what support he needs. The care in finding someone whose personality fit, not just someone with the right qualifications.

Four Weeks In

It's only been a month, but the contrast in Devin's daily life is real. Four weeks ago, he was at his old group home job, managing challenging behaviors across four clients. Now he's in San Diego with one roommate he genuinely enjoys being around.

"Jake is awesome. He's so teachable. I can teach him anything, and after a few tries, he's got it," Devin said.

When asked how this compares to his old work, Devin thought for a moment. He said most of the time it doesn't feel like work at all. And the part that does? "It's more of a mental work," he explained. The biggest adjustment has been going from a structured 40-hour week where he could easily detach at the end of a shift to being on call. It's a different rhythm. But it's his life now, not just his job. And that's exactly what he was looking for.

And then there's what's happening on Jake's side.

In just the first few weeks, Jake has met Devin's family and his friends. For someone whose profile says he doesn't initiate social activities but will participate when invited, that kind of growth matters. Devin is the kind of roommate who invites. And Jake is showing up.

That's the thing about a good match. It doesn't just provide support. It opens doors that weren't there before.

A Mom's Perspective

When talking to Polly, what came through most wasn't praise for a service. It was relief.

She told them she feels good knowing that the Homies team checks in with Devin and Jake every week. That someone is paying attention. That her son isn't just placed somewhere and forgotten about.

Are there bumps? Of course. Jake is still adjusting. Any transition this big takes time. But Polly said she feels confident they're headed in the right direction. The conversations before move-in, the careful matchmaking, the follow-up after. It adds up to something she trusts.

"They are on the right track now for success," she told them. When asked what success looks like for her in 12 months, she didn't hesitate: "They're definitely on their way there. I'm confident they're going to be homies for a long time."

For a mom learning to let go a little, that confidence means everything.

What Comes Next

Devin went from living with his mom in a small town, grinding through group home shifts, to living independently in San Diego with a roommate who's becoming a real friend. Jake went from living with his parents, wanting more independence but not sure how to get there, to having someone who cooks with him, games with him, introduces him to new people, and teaches him something new every day.

We're excited to see where they go from here.

If you or someone you know could benefit from a match like this, learn more at meethomies.com.