Home Share of Central Vermont Celebrates Sixth Anniversary

Elsie Beard of Orange has someone else to cook for, thanks to her successful match facilitated by Home Share of Central Vermont (HSCVT).

Beard contacted central Vermont’s only home sharing program looking for help with lawn care, bringing in firewood, and light housekeeping.  After an extensive screening process and several introductions, Beard decided to try a match with Santiago Carey, a computer professional relocating here from New York State.

Carey, for his part, was looking for affordable housing close to his work.  He, too, had several other introductions before choosing to live with Beard.  Since he moved in last fall, the two have been enjoying a successful home share match — including many shared meals.

“It’s a classic home sharing success story,” saysHSCVT director Betsy Reid.  “Each person helps the other live a richer, happier life.  We’ve had such wonderful participants in this program over the last six years.  There’s a lot for us to celebrate.”

Carey and Beard are just two of the nearly 200 people Home Share of Central Vermont has helped find matches since the program started six years ago, when the Central Vermont Council on Aging agreed to sponsor the new program.  CVCOA hired Reid on March 3, 2003.

With the help of a core group of dedicated volunteers, a thriving program was built around one fundamental goal: arranging live-in matches between older and disabled Vermonters who want to remain in their own homes, outside of institutional care, with other Vermonters of all ages who lend a helping hand in exchange for affordable housing.  The youngest participant today is 17 and the oldest is 96.

Home sharing was a novel concept in central Vermont when HSCVT first opened its doors.  Now, though, business is booming, as word spreads that home sharing not only makes economic sense but also enriches people’s lives.

Indeed, Reid sees a silver lining in the current economic crisis, because, she says, “scores of Vermonters will experience firsthand how home sharing lessens the isolation of rural living; provides the ability to live well and frugally; allows people to stay in their own homes; and relieves adult children of elder care worries.

“It’s been especially gratifying to see how home sharing has helped younger citizens,” Reid continued.  “Our young participants have been able to save money to buy a house, pay off student loans, start new careers in the public service sector, and even find safe and stable housing to finish high school.”

HSCVT is based in Barre, and serves Washington, Lamoille and Orange Counties.  The Central Vermont Council on Aging continues to serve as the 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor of the home share program, but HSCVT must raise all its own funds.