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Home sharing describes a situation in which an adult with a developmental disability shares a home with someone who provides ongoing support. Support may include a furnished room and other space in the home, assistance in self-care and relationship-building, lifeskills, meal preparation, personal care, and use of community resources, activities and generic services.
This residential option includes a wide variety of arrangements and relationships. Home sharing may be offered by local agencies or directly by CLBC. Homes may be owned or rented by the individual requiring support, by the home sharing provider, or both. In some situations, the home sharing provider’s family lives in the home. In others, two people share as roommates in a reciprocal relationship.
Individuals tend choose this option because it provides an ideal balance of support and independence. It is entirely person-centred in that it allows individuals to select a home sharing provider and home environment that meet their own unique goals and preferences. Support is flexible and evolves according to the individuals’ changing needs. For some, home sharing is a stepping stone to even greater independence. For others, it is an arrangement that will last for many years.
Background
Since 1991, the number of individuals selecting this residential option has increased by 387% and continues to show steady growth in popularity (13% since 2002). It is the fastest growing residential option within the province and there are now approximately 2500 adults who live in home sharing arrangements. Home sharing occurs in virtually every community either through CLBC or a qualified service provision agency.
In April 2007, CLBC adopted a set of standards for home sharing to ensure that individuals who choose this option receive high quality support. The standards clarify the roles and responsibilities of home sharing providers and allow our staff to assess whether providers are meeting established standards.
In the coming months, we will provide training to our existing home sharing providers. We will offer this training to introduce the standards, highlight important policies, and clarify reporting expectations. It will also provide home sharing providers with the opportunity to connect with one another so they have access to mentoring, ongoing support, and information-sharing.
Interested in Becoming a Home Sharing Provider?
Get in touch with the Quality Service Office in your region. Click here for contact information.
Alternatively, you can directly contact the agencies that deliver home sharing services. See below for a comprehensive list of providers in your community.
Documents for Download
 Standards for Home Sharing (135KB pdf)
Monitoring Tool for Home Sharing (206KB pdf)
Health and Safety Checklist for Home Sharing (88KB pdf)
Successful Practices for Home Sharing Services (277KB pdf)
Handbook for Home Sharing Providers (1,201 KB pdf)
Of Interest to Service Providers
Template available for agencies wishing to contract with home sharing providers.
Please contact Andrea Baker for more information.
604-664-0809 / andrea.baker@gov.bc.ca |
2007 Home Sharing Providers List (21KB pdf)
Conversion of an Existing Group Home (171KB pdf)
Guidelines for Agencies (50KB pdf)
Determining Employee vs Contractor (88KB pdf)
CRA Bulletin (150KB pdf)
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