Apply using the online application. Once your application is submitted, please give staff 10 days to reach out to you. We appreciate your patience. Staff will review your application and discuss with you which program makes the most sense for you. To learn more about our Supported Program, visit our How It Works page.
A social work staff member will reach out to you to schedule a phone intake over the phone or video call, asking questions about personality, mental health, hobbies, home logistics, service needs, etc. to screen and better match you with a potential Home Provider or Home Seeker. If you are a Home Provider, you will provide a home tour either virtually over video call or through a video recording.
You will need to submit 2 references and a background check which will be reviewed by our social work team. You will be responsible for the cost of the background check ($20). If you have a background check completed in the past 6 months, you may send this in place of a new one. Please send it to references@sunshinehomeshare.org. For more information on eligibility and the screening process, scroll to the bottom of this page and click "Download reference and background check procedures".
Once screening is completed, you will receive an invitation to join our matching platform and create your profile. You will also gain access to home sharing tools & 1-on-1 phone support.
Browse suggested housemates and search for housemates based on your home sharing needs. Use our platform to chat securely with your potential matches.
You will coordinate with your potential housemates to hold match meetings. Sunshine will provide resources on best practices for holding a match meeting. You may conduct multiple match meetings before finding a potential housemate. If the first match meeting is successful you are encouraged to meet 2-3 more times, ensuring you know each other fairly well before moving on.
Sunshine strongly encourages a 2-week trial match. This is recommended so each party experiences living together before the final move-in. Staff meet at the home to discuss the Trial Match and set length of stay. Participants sign a document stating this is only a trial match for a specified time. During the Trial Match staff check in formally and are available for support.
If you decide to match, you will fill out a Home Sharing Agreement in collaboration with your match to discuss all the details of living together. Sunshine provides a Home Sharing Agreement template for you and your housemate to fill out, including aspects of home sharing such as service exchange expectations, communication plans, rent, space, limitations, cleanliness, etc. Setting these parameters before move-in defines the expectations for a successful home sharing relationship.
Sunshine conducts quarterly match check-ins (4x/year). This is a discussion of challenges and successes where home seekers and home providers receive support from staff to continue in a healthy match. Sunshine Staff are also there to assist you with any issues that arise throughout your match.