This interview is based on a conversation with data analyst and systems manager Kayla Mazza, 31, of Windsor County, Vermont. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Every night, at 7 p.m., my housemate, Honey Donegan, 77, and I sit down to watch Jeopardy in her den. Friday night is often movie night. It’s a lovely bonding experience, despite the 46-year age gap.
Honey and I first met in March 2023, but our friendship has gotten stronger by the day since I moved into her home.
A few months before, I’d landed a job at a nonprofit near Honey’s town, an hour’s commute from my parents’ home in Waterbury, Vermont. I’d stayed there temporarily until I found my own accommodation nearer my office.
However, as soon as I started looking, I felt discouraged. There was a lack of affordable housing in the area. Renting a room in a house with four other people can easily cost over $1,000 a month.
Guests like me are not considered carers
My new job was at a nonprofit, and I’d taken a pay cut from my previous position. In most cases, I didn’t even qualify as a tenant because I didn’t earn the required amount under the lease.
A relative told me about HomeShare Vermont, a nonprofit that matches older people with empty space in their homes with people like me.
It’s an arrangement that works financially for both the guest and the host. As well as companionship, the host’s incentives include the guest often assisting with chores.
Guests are not considered carers, but they may help with tasks such as cooking meals, grocery shopping, and rides to the doctor’s office.
Each party is vetted by the organization, and I was excited to be matched with Honey, a part-time nanny, who lives in a four-bedroom house in a homeowners’ association.
We settled on a reasonable rent of $650 a month — the maximum HomeShare allows for a shared-housing arrangement — plus a percentage of utilities.
My rent was higher than the average $380 monthly amount that HomeShare guests pay, mainly because Honey’s needs were few. Some living situations are more intensive and may require a nightly presence and a set number of hours of assistance.
The expectations were set in advance
It worked out really well because I have a full-time job and am very busy. I also like visiting family and traveling a lot.
Meanwhile, Honey is the most active senior I know, especially since she has to keep up with little children.
The expectations were discussed in advance of what I should help with, such as watching her pets — two cats, two dogs, and some fish — when she’s away or stacking wood in the winter.
We really clicked and have never needed HomeShare’s mediation if problems ever arise between housemates.
We’re both avid readers
In addition to liking Jeopardy and funny movies, we have other things in common. We hike together, walk the dogs, and swim at a nearby lake.
We have similar political beliefs and are both avid readers. Honey, who is extremely empathetic, would never judge me for curling up with a book for an entire weekend.
Meanwhile, we have open conversations about coming from different generations. The arrangement makes good financial sense, and it’s stimulating and rewarding.
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