A new home-sharing program is connecting North Shore adults 55 and older who have spare rooms with older adults seeking affordable housing, The Hollyburn Society announced.
The program, called Hidden Housing Solutions, launched to help older adults remain independent, connected, and housed in the community they call home, according to the news release. It pairs homeowners with a spare room, known as Home Providers, with Home Seekers looking for a safe, affordable place to live.
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According to the news release, census and municipal housing data point to a local mismatch between housing stock and household needs. In West Vancouver, the District’s community profile shows nearly two-thirds of occupied homes are single-detached, and 62 per cent of homes have three or more bedrooms, meaning many homes likely have unused bedrooms.
“Many people in our community want to stay in the home and neighbourhood they love, but as housing pressure grows, that is becoming harder,” said Mark Friesen, Executive Director of The Hollyburn Society. “Hidden Housing Solutions creates a new way forward by helping neighbours support neighbours through safe, supported, and carefully considered homesharing arrangements.”
For homeowners, the program can offer additional monthly income, companionship, and reassurance of having someone nearby, according to the news release. For those seeking housing, it can provide a stable, affordable living option, social connection, and the chance to remain on the North Shore.
The Hollyburn Society supports participants throughout the process, including intake, screening, home safety visits, matching, introductions, paperwork, and ongoing check-ins, with participants remaining in control at every step.
“Home sharing is about more than sharing a roof,” Friesen said. “It is about choice, connection, and helping people continue to age well in the community they know and love.”
