There are several steps to the on boarding process. Once your application has been processed, we will schedule an intake interview where we learn what you’re looking for in a housemate and what your needs and lifestyle preferences are. At this meeting we will ask you lots of questions about yourself, including any ‘must haves’ or ‘deal breakers’ for your living situation. We will also collect a copy of your photo ID and proof of income and complete all the necessary consent forms. After, we will run a background check and contact your references. Home providers will also have a home visit completed where we ensure that the home is safe and appropriate for a housemate. Once all these steps have been completed, you will be considered officially on boarded. From there, staff will start working to identify possible matches.     

There is a $20 application fee to cover the cost of background screening, due at the time of the intake interview. The application fee is non-refundable. We accept checks or cash, checks can be made out to Home & Heart.  

Home & Heart does screen for criminal history. Individuals with a history of abuse of any kind are not eligible to participate in the home sharing program. All others will be considered on a case by case basis. Additionally, any conduct toward staff that is considered abusive, harassing, discriminatory, or otherwise inappropriate will result in a client being determined ineligible for services.

Unfortunately, home sharing is not rapid rehousing. The process of matching takes time and we cannot guarantee that we will find at match at all. Once an applicant is officially on boarded, a Housing Coordinator will contact them when a potential match becomes available. Please note that Home & Heart does not place people in homes, we facilitate introductions between two interested parties who are compatible on paper. It is  up to each participant to decide whether a match is the right one for them. 

Home & Heart is not a caregiving service. There are no hands-on activities permitted as part of the match agreement including bathing, dressing, and toileting. Services are generally custodial or companionship oriented. Home providers are often looking for help with cooking, housekeeping, pet care, yard work, and transportation; companionship includes everything from movie and tv watching together, to board games and cards. The possibilities are endless.

Home & Heart works to create a safe housing program by carefully screening applicants, processing background checks, conducting home visits, and evaluating each individual through the intake interview, reference checks, and an array of interactions that occur with each individual we serve. We also provide ongoing support for the challenges that home sharing can present including conflict resolution and mediation.

Currently, the two biggest barriers to a match are having a pet and smoking. Most home providers are looking for a single individual. Couples or families can apply to the program, but it will be more difficult to find the right match and is likely to take a significant amount of time.