On August 10, 2011, as part of a weeklong conference in Atlanta, GA, NeighborWorks® America hosted a full-day symposium entitled “Ensuring Safe, Healthy Homes and Communities for Our Seniors.”  Rebecca Sheppard, NSHRC Co-President and Program Director at St. Ambrose Homesharing in Baltimore, MD, served as a panelist addressing the issue “What is Aging in Place?” and on a subsequent panel relating to program implementation. For the audience of almost 300 housing practitioners, Ms. Sheppard presented the merits of Homesharing for seniors, emphasizing the tremendous impact on loneliness and continued sense of independence that seniors receive from continuing to stay where they want to be – in their home. Additional benefits of Homesharing for seniors are the alleviation of the burden of caregiving on family members, and access to transportation help and custodial care.

NeighborWorks® America is a national leader in affordable housing and community development, and this speaking engagement was a wonderful opportunity, as this is the first time NeighborWorks has expressed interest in shared housing as part of a menu of housing services. In attendance were many leaders in the field of housing and senior services, including national-level funders, and Ms. Sheppard highlighted the NSHRC and its directory as a resource for those interested in learning more about Homesharing in their area. 

For more information about NeighborWorks® America: www.nw.org/