Shared Housing and Resource Exchange California

What is the SHARE Program? SHARE Sonoma County, (SHARE) is a housing program of SHARE California, a 501c3 Nonprofit, and opened its doors August 1, 2014. Now in its ninth year SHARE (Shared Housing And Resource Exchange) has expanded to include two affordable housing programs that uniquely serve vulnerable populations throughout Sonoma County. Both of these programs use existing housing to create new, very affordable, and attainable housing for those mostly extremely low-income. Home Share Program US Census data estimates there are at least 60,000 empty bedrooms for homeowners over the age of 60 years in Sonoma County. These empty bedrooms represent inexpensive, immediate, long-term housing options. This Home Share Program matches Home Seekers with Home Providers who either own their home or have the ability to sublet and have a spare bedroom(s). One can rent a room in exchange for an agreed amount of monthly rent ( Rent Exchanges), help or assist with household and/or personal tasks (Service Exchanges), or a combination of both. This home sharing program targets seniors aged 60 years and older and creates affordable or attainable housing for someone who is extremely low-income to $0 income due to being too young to collect Social Security, having difficulty achieving work stability, and not disabled. The primary goal of this program is to keep seniors in their homes to not only age in place but to thrive and matched with those in need of housing stability. Those seeking housing through home sharing tend to be an average age of 55 years of age and are either newly or nearly homeless. This is mostly a homeless prevention program for those who simply cannot afford to rent in Sonoma County. HUD voucher recipients are eligible to use their voucher for a room rental. Community Shared Housing Program This program creates Community Houses through locating empty homes in which the property owner lives elsewhere and is managed by SHARE, who pays the rent directly to the property owner each month and ensures each bedroom is rented at all times to individuals, creating shared housing and community. This model is better suited to individuals with more intensive supportive service needs and allows SHARE to serve more high-needs individuals experiencing homelessness or housing instability for much longer periods of time. This shared housing program accepts recipients with HUD housing vouchers for both county and City of Santa Rosa. Our intent is to create a community of support for one another within each home and also between Community Houses to further create a supportive network for those in this shared housing program. Client Supportive Services Supportive services and case management is vital to the success of both of these housing programs. Once a client is housed and is now stabilized with housing in either program they are further assessed by our case management team to determine what other support and resources are essential to further stabilization so that not only do they stabilize but also begin to thrive. We strive to identify and continually document how best to serve each client so that he/she/they never return to homelessness and increase their well-being to thrive in our community. Collaboration is Essential to Our Success SHARE Sonoma County collaborates with many agencies and nonprofits across all platforms throughout the county which includes Sonoma County Behavioral Health, Human Services Department, multiple nonprofit organizations that support and serve those who are currently homeless, provide veteran services, provide services for women, for seniors, for those experiencing domestic violence, those within the LGBTQIA community, multi-racial and cultural communities, religious and educational institutions, and local government.