Shared Housing of New Orleans

Shared Housing of New Orleans keeps elderly and/or disabled homeowners from going to nursing homes that do not want to or need to be there. We match them with individuals who need a place to live. There is an even exchange of room and board by the homeowner for light housework and companionship by the homeseeker. Our mission is to prevent the unnecessary institutionalization of elderly and disabled homeowners, while also reducing homelessness.

Shared Housing of New Orleans was organized as a non-profit organization in 1988. While working at Charity Hospital, our Director, Marion Strauss, noticed that many elderly homeowners were being sent unnecessarily to nursing homes. She realized that with some assistance in the home they could remain there. This led her to start the shared housing program. The program operated successfully up until 2005, when Hurricane Katrina brought it to a halt. The staff was scattered. The program was finally restarted in the summer of 2007. We have a nearly 30 year history of assisting people with housing needs.
Our main focus is the greater New Orleans metro area. This includes Orleans and Jefferson Parishes. Many elderly homeowners, though mentally healthy, often suffer physical disabilities which prevent them from being able to live totally alone in their homes. They have special needs related to assistance with errands, shopping, diet, and cooking. Also they often have too little income to hire someone as a companion. The homeowners usually have minimal familial support. Medicare notes that the average cost to house an elderly/disabled person is approximately $25,000 annually. The Shared Housing alternative thus saves tax dollars- and no fees are charged to either participant. Furthermore, AARP reports that 30% of those in nursing homes could remain at home with some assistance. Also, Louisiana has one of the highest rates of institutionalizing the elderly- for those over 85 it is the highest in the country. By allowing elderly/disabled individuals to stay in their own homes, connection to neighborhoods and civic life is fostered. Numerous homeowners have contacted us after Katrina, hoping that we can assist them in returning to their rebuilt homes.
Shared Housing of New Orleans is a preventative program which aids the "homeseeker", the person who has experienced an emotional or financial loss of some magnitude and does not have a place to stay or, in some cases, the ability to pay next month's rent, and the "homeowner", often elderly or disabled, who may face imminent threat of unnecessary institutionalization. This is a program which promotes the mental health of elderly and/or disabled individuals who are often suffering situational depression caused by loss of a spouse, physical disability, and other problems which sometimes lead to suicidal ideation. After the creation of a homesharing match we find that depression is reduced in virtually all clients. Overall quality of life improves as well.
Registered nurses meet with all clients to assess their goals, needs, strengths and vulnerabilities. Homeseekers and homeowners are interviewed individually. Profiles are obtained, police checks and reference letters are secured and other supportive documentation is gathered. If all components are clear, homeseeker and homeowner who are judged as possibly compatible meet at the homeowner's residence for a "double" interview along with the registered nurse, who facilitates the interview. Should the homeseeker and homeowner agree, a weekend "stayover" is arranged between the two. If the stayover is successful, then the homeseeker moves in. Ongoing case management is provided by the nursing staff, who make periodic site visits and refer back to physicians for needed health care. The safety, comfort and security of participants are paramount.
Day-to-day activities all center on the creation of mutually beneficial homesharing matches. Here is a case study of a match to further illustrate the way the program works:
Homeowner Donald G., age, developed Parkinson's like symptoms 15 years ago. He believes the cause of the disease is exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. He contacted Shared Housing of New Orleans because he needed more assistance in his home. Though he has regular home health nursing assistance, he hoped to find someone who could live in with him and be there at night- when he felt most vulnerable. Donald's ability to walk has steadily declined, leaving him bed-bound much of the time. But he still gets out when he can, using a wheelchair and van.
Homeseeker Karene P., 56, had lost her job and was staying with family members. The situation had become difficult and she called Shared Housing for assistance. Karene is in good health and loves working with the elderly.
A double interview was arranged and the two got on well. The homeseeker returned the following week for the 3 night stayover...

Testimonials

Here is a letter from a homeseeker who ...