About Home Share Melbourne
What is Home Share Melbourne?Home Share Melbourne thoughtfully matches people living with a disability (Householders) who have a spare bedroom with people looking for affordable housing (Homesharers.) The program has a number of benefits, including supporting people with disabilities to stay living independently in their home. From a wider society perspective, it increases the availability of housing in our community. Home Share Melbourne is also piloting a second program which matches asylum seekers with caring community members who have spare bedrooms in their homes Most commonly, the Homesharers will pay no lodging fees and provide approximately 10 hours of support and companionship to the Householder. Other options include a maximum rent of $170 per week or discounted rent in exchange for 5 hours of work a week. All of these options are discussed with each individual match to asses the best option for the Householder and Homesharer. What is Homeshare?Homesharing has been a successful way of building connection and community for over 40 years. It differs from a typical roommate situation because, at its core, it is about two people helping each other. Homesharing is when a person offers a private bedroom and shared common area in exchange for help around the house and companionship from a live-in flatmate. Every homesharing arrangement is unique as it depends on the needs, time, interests and abilities of the people involved. It originated in America in the early 1970s and now operates in 17 countries. Who are our supporters?Homeshare Australia and New Zealand Alliance (HANZA)
Home Share Melbourne is a program of HANZA.
Established in 2006, HANZA is a not-for-profit organisation which is increasing the number of lifestyle choices for youth, disabled and older people. Driven by volunteers, it is a collaborative partnership between homeshare providers and potential providers across Australia and New Zealand. HANZA is the peak body for homeshare services and provides information, advice and resources about the programs. HANZA connects homeshare programs within Australia and New Zealand to international programs. |
South Port Community Housing GroupSPCHG is a community housing organisation that manages 285 tenancies, all located in the City of Port Phillip. They generally assist single people on low income who are experiencing a period of crisis in obtaining or maintaining secure housing. SPCHG leases property from the State Government and owns and develops housing.
South Port Community Housing Group supported Home Share Melbourne in its early development phase. City of Port PhillipThe City of Port Phillip has an interest in the development of innovative housing projects in the area. The CoPP has supported HSM since 2017, by providing two grants. The Honda Foundation and Astoria Honda Brighton
The Honda Foundation and Astoria Honda Brighton supported the Home Share Melbourne Program by supplying a brand new Honda CRV (see photo above) for the year of 2019! Flatmates.com.auFlatmates.com.au partnered with Home Share Melbourne in December 2018. Flatmates.com.au has a been a principal driver in helping the program find householders in our catchment areas of greater Melbourne and Port Phillip. Flatmates.com.au have also played a pivotal role in our website uplift and marketing. AcknowledgementsHome Share Melbourne wishes to acknowledge the support they have also received from The Ducks Guts graphic design, Capptivate website development and BDO for taxation advice. |
Media
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'It makes my life bigger': The win-win of Ricky and Josh's homesharing arrangement. |
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An antidote to lonelinessThe Big Issue
3 December 2018 The Christmas 2018 edition of The Big Issue includes an in-depth feature about Homeshare and the new Home Share Melbourne program. The piece examines two successful, but quite different, Homeshare matches: householder Philomena, who’s in her seventies, and her 20-year-old homesharer Rakesh, a student from Malaysia, and also 89-year-old Cecilia and her 61-year-old homesharer Jean. It’s fascinating to read about all four participants’ varying experiences of Homeshare - Jean is Cecilia’s first homesharer, but Philomena has had three different homesharers over the years, forming strong friendships with each of them. Both Jean and Rakesh discuss how Melbourne’s expensive rental market would make it impossible for them to stay in the city were it not for Homeshare: a great example of mutual benefit for both householder and homesharer! Read more |
Contact
If you are looking to become a householder, please complete the eligibility survey.
If the information you seek has not been answered by our FAQ pages, we are happy to assist you further via phone or email.
Carla Raynes
Manager & Co-founder
0468 940 088
homeshare.melbourne@homeshare.org.au
If the information you seek has not been answered by our FAQ pages, we are happy to assist you further via phone or email.
Carla Raynes
Manager & Co-founder
0468 940 088
homeshare.melbourne@homeshare.org.au