Safe and Supported:
Home Sharing Solutions for Older Adults
Access to affordable housing is top of mind for many older adults in Maryland. Research indicates it’s a growing concern as housing costs continue to rise. More than 70% of older adults want to remain in their communities as they age, but worry the support systems they’ve spent years building will be lost if they are forced to relocate. That’s why many older adults are turning to creative solutions like home sharing programs to connect them to the right home, with the right person, in the right community.
George and Victor were connected through Housing Initiative Partnership (HIP) in March of 2025. In exchange for below-market rent, George, 91, was looking for a little help around the house and someone to watch the occasional football game with him. Victor, a retired Montgomery County Public School employee, offered just that. Both are very happy with the arrangement and credit the Home Sharing Program at HIP for taking the time to find the right match. “I tried to rent my basement apartment before,” George said, “but it never worked out. Now Victor and I can chat and watch a game together. He will help grab my mail and take out the trash too. It’s been a wonderful experience.”
Why home sharing programs are growing in popularity with older adults.
Maryland has a housing shortage problem we cannot simply build our way out of. A flexible housing landscape offers more options for a diverse population of older Marylanders, and greater adaptability as our needs change over time.
27% of Marylanders over 65 live alone. Many who participate in home sharing programs are at risk of social isolation and seek the connection of the right housemate for a variety of reasons. Some have difficulty maintaining the homes they have lived in for many years and are looking for a little help around the house. Others may need accessibility accommodations or transportation support to remain independent. All are looking for an affordable way to remain in their community, even as their financial circumstances change. Home sharing programs provide older adults with safe home environments that meet their needs and background-checked referrals.
Typically run by nonprofit organizations, home sharing programs match homeowners to home seekers by paring the needs of both sides in ways that go beyond a simple lease agreement and floorplan. One-one-one counseling and intake processes connect home seekers to the type of home environment they are looking for in the community of their choice. Background checks and other vetting processes reduce the fear of the unknown associated with a typical roommate arrangement, and gives both sides peace of mind. This can make living in the communities they love much safer as they age, and provide less expensive alternatives to living alone, moving to a senior community, or into a nursing home.
From 2018 to 2024, there was a 77% increase in adults age 65 and older facing homelessness. Marylanders 65+ are experiencing the largest increase in homelessness than any other population.
Home sharing programs provide a person-centered approach to aging in place.
Gerard Joab is the Executive Director at St. Ambrose Housing Center, a nonprofit in Baltimore County that has been actively engaged in the home sharing model for about 50 years. He says older adults are drawn to home sharing programs for a variety of reasons. “Typically it’s the older person that is the owner of the property,” he explains. “They may not always come into the home sharing model directly, but are made aware of it through other housing services we offer, or partnerships we have formed with other organizations.”
The intake process at St. Ambrose includes background checks, a no-weapons policy, housing code inspections, and ensuring that homes in the program are not at risk of foreclosure. Many times the referrals are based on location preferences and transportation needs. But there are some instances where matches are more creatively paired.
“An interesting cohort involved homeseekers who were grandparents raising grandchildren,” Joab recalled. “Most of the homeowners who signed up for that were former educators. So we had a lot of people providing help with homework, music lessons, or helping to pick the child up from school.”
Housing Initiative Partnership (HIP) is a Montgomery County nonprofit that credits its success to well-trained counselors who bring a range of housing expertise to the table. “There are so many different kinds of home sharing arrangements,” said Mary Hunter, Director of the Housing Counseling Program at HIP. “Ours is very engaged with vetting the homeowner and home seekers.”
Hunter emphasizes the critical role that housing navigation services play in the overall approach to aging in place. Working in partnership with other trusted housing service providers, HIP provides holistic support to home owners who may be struggling with taxes, legal issues, making repairs, and other challenges that can impact their ability to live safely and affordably in the homes they love. Clients often reach out for help in one of these areas, and are referred to the Home Sharing Program for a more affordable and sustainable home environment. “This navigation component is baked into the program,” she said. “We know how important navigation is for older adults. Our staff can help them with that.”
Hunter advises older adults to be very wary of ads that promise to solve your housing challenges from sources that aren’t HUD approved. “There are a lot of scammers out there,” she warns. “That’s where the HUD-approved housing designation is so important.”
HUD-approved housing counselors provide expertise with helping home owners and renters, free of charge. To locate a trusted Housing Navigator counselor in your community, go to the HUD Counseling Agencies search tool, and choose “Certified” from the Counseling Type dropdown menu for Maryland.
