Snezhanka Stefanova was once in a significant collect prior to she met Jeanne Falla.
The then-20-year-old would quickly be with out a house. Her folks deliberate to go again to their local Bulgaria, however the contemporary highschool graduate had lived in Contra Costa County maximum of her age. She sought after to begin faculty and didn’t need to release her pals.
“In order for me to stay here, I had to figure out how I’m going to live on my own,” mentioned Stefanova, 21, who was once juggling two part-time jobs on the generation.
Input 64-year-old Falla, a semi-retired former federal assistant who was once having a look to hire out a room in her Walnut Creek townhouse. The 2 girls have been presented in the course of the nonprofit House Fit Contra Costa, talked and made up our minds they might be suitable roommates, in spite of the distance in hour and age revel in.
That’s the aim of House Fit: to fix seniors, who’re in quest of supplementary source of revenue and companionship, with native staff, scholars and others short of inexpensive housing within the astronomically pricey Bay Segment.
“I think the whole idea of having a roommate is great,” mentioned Falla, who mentioned the $1,000 hire Stefanova will pay every occasion has helped “a lot.”
For some seniors, taking in a roommate is the one method they may be able to have the funds for to stick of their houses, mentioned Luke Barnesmoore, technique director for House Fit, which has places of work in Contra Costa, Alameda, Marin and San Francisco counties.
There are on-line websites the place nation can seek for roommates, however Stefanova and Falla idea House Fit represented an possibility that was once extra “safe.” The sovereign carrier places really extensive paintings into vetting shoppers, with prison background exams, house visits, impressive questionnaires and interviews that build introductions in line with nation’s personalities, conversation kinds and way of life personal tastes.
House Fit started within the Bay Segment in 2012 in Marin prior to increasing to the alternative counties. It’s an initiative of Entrance Porch, a nonprofit that runs greater than 50 inexpensive and market-rate senior housing communities in California and alternative states.
Between 2015 and 2023, House Fit facilitated 371 fits around the 4 Bay Segment counties, with maximum tenants signing monthly rentals. The group is looking for $5,000 from the East Bay Occasions’ Percentage the Spirit Diversion marketing campaign, which highlights organizations that assistance aid susceptible communities and people. The price range will assistance prepare 15 house fits for 30 nation.
The typical hour of House Fit house suppliers is 72. A few quarter have no less than one incapacity, or they have got mobility problems or fall dangers that build it tricky for them to are living isolated, Barnesmoore mentioned. In such circumstances, a house supplier would possibly go for “a task exchange,” the place the roommate is helping with family chores or errands in trade for decreased hire.
“This can address the problems of social isolation, allowing home providers to age in place,” Barnesmoore mentioned.
The typical hour of house seekers is 53, they usually come with used adults and nation with disabilities residing on mounted earning, in addition to academics, eating place staff, nation who paintings minimum-wage jobs and scholars.
Ahead of Falla signed up with House Fit, her pals have been cautious of her getting a roommate. However Falla endured, partly as a result of she idea it could be “a good thing to do for the community.” She additionally preferred the thoroughness of the questionnaire.
It requested perceivable questions: smoker or no longer, does the roommate want their very own toilet, are pets OK? However it additionally attempted to floor problems that may extra correctly decide whether or not two nation fit: How do they really feel about sharing meals or kitchen utensils or taking part in track? Are sure rooms off limits? Is it OK to have in a single day visitors? What about cleansing or expectancies about having foods in combination? What’s the temperature most often saved at in the home?
Falla learned that cleanliness was once very impressive to her; she couldn’t abide a roommate who left dishes within the sink. However Stevanova best being 20? That wasn’t a subject, as she advised the younger lady when she referred to as latter December about assembly.
“I was open,” Falla mentioned. “There are benefits to intergenerational living.”
For her section, Stefanova, who has since became 21, wanted a roommate who wouldn’t observe her comings and goings, as her folks had carried out. She additionally appreciated Falla’s colourful, comfy decor, together with the smiley-face pillow propped on a front room arm chair.
“It gave me good vibes,” Stefanova mentioned.
Stefanova was once particularly interested by shifting into Falla’s unfurnished 2nd bed room, which she may embellish herself. “I never grew up having the room I wanted,” she mentioned. Then they signed their “Living Together Agreement” in mid-January, Falla hosted Stefanova’s folks for dinner prior to they returned to Bulgaria, which helped them “feel better.”
Each girls preferred that House Fit trade in mediation services and products, if conflicts rise, which hasn’t came about of their case. Barnesmoore mentioned best about 5% in their fits since April 2022 have ended with the 2 events figuring out they weren’t a just right have compatibility.
Falla and Stefanova haven’t transform BFFs who prepare dinner foods and keep tabs on TV in combination. However they get alongside as they govern free lives and will see the association proceeding. Logan Robertson, colleague director for House Fit Contra Costa, mentioned some shoppers finally end up turning into “like family.”
Infrequently, Stefanova, who works at a automotive condominium company, talks to Falla about her activity and likes listening to her insights.
“It’s nice having someone with more experience to talk to,” she mentioned.
“I’m just trying to be helpful,” Falla mentioned.
Percentage the Spirit
The Percentage the Spirit peace marketing campaign, backed through the Bay Segment Information Crew, supplies diversion, hope and alternatives for East Bay citizens through serving to elevate cash for nonprofit systems in Alameda and Contra Costa counties.
How one can assistance
Donations will assistance House Fit stabilize the housing condition for 30 or extra people in Contra Costa and Alameda counties through starting 15 unutilized suitable fits. Purpose: $5,000
How one can give
Walk to www.sharethespiriteastbay.org/donate or print and mail on this mode.
supply: www.mercurynews.com
