Spring 2014 Supportmatch Newsletter UPDATE:
For Supportmatch Success story this month please check our article on the Camden Journal
During Spring 2014 were are promoting with the local authorities in London a FREE piloting Homeshare program.
Supportmatch is offering Homeshare service to 10 service users in each borough for a period of 6 months.
Supportmatch Homeshare can be funded by personal budgets. The cost of Homeshare is of £24.75 per week.
Contact us on 020 3592 0152 or 07742 807677 / 07847 072490 and we will take you through the steps. Homeshare is a service that is flexible and defined by the person wanting it. Each match is personal to fit individual need.
Should the Local Authority Social Services award a personalised budget to enable someone to continue to live independently in their community and they have a spare room then Homeshare is a good solution.
The so-called ‘bedroom tax’ seems unfair. Homeshare is a way of someone using their extra space very effectively. The spare room is being used to provide accommodation to assist with support needs.
The Homeshare service arrangement is not taxable. The householder and the homesharer are entering into a voluntary arrangement which HM Treasury do not see this as unearned income, so no taxation applies.
Homeshare mainly offers domestic support, companionship and security. Some people who have Homeshare also have addition personal support hours as and when they need it.
Family involvement is welcome in the matching process.
See our website for more information:
Homeshare’ is growing. In the last 10 years30,000 people in the US and 20,000 people in Europe have been taking up Homeshare. In the UK there are around a dozen organisations starting to offer the service as a real alternative to meet support needs. It is inter-generational mutual support and for many is just what is needed. The best thing is it costs a fraction of the cost of care offered in more traditional ways.
In short, a person who can give support is checked, prepared and then matched with someone who wants support. They live in the home in the spare bedroom under an agreement for up to a year or two and provide 10 - 15 hours of support each week. The householder and the homesharer provide a benefit to each other especially in areas where there is a high number of students or young people wanting accommodation and older or disabled people who want support.
Supportmatch ( is part of a registered (non-profit) limited company, which exists to match people who want support with those who can give it. The concept is a win-win for all concerned. Supportmatch has 10 years experience of offering a simple but effective home-share solution to resolve both a housing problem for single people or students (studying health or social care courses for example) and a support requirement for older people or people with particular support needs (physical of emotional).
Supportmatch mainly focus on the London area, the south of England the Midlands. We are affiliates of the Home-share international group. We work in collaboration with the local NHS, social services, housing services and GP/primary care centres. The aim is to set up a mutual arrangement (a legal agreement) between householder and homesharer which is both flexible and signed-off between the two parties. Supportmatch coordinators help broker the arrangement to ensure a successful match. After registering, references and checks are done, then the first step is a face-to-face meeting with the matching coordinator. The needs of the householder or the skills/requirements of the homesharer are identified and if everyone is in agreement the matching commences. This takes 2 to 4 weeks, with a match going live within 1-2 months.
Once a householder and homesharer are matched Supportmatch facilitate their relationship by offering a regular monitoring service for the duration of the match (usually12 months, but matches can go on for a second or third year if required). All arrangements are subject to individual needs and preferences and are monitored regularly by the homeshare accredited team via a minimum of monthly joint meetings.
Examples of matches include, a recently bereaved retired teacher being matched with a student studying teaching, a design student matched with an elderly man that reinvigorated his love of art, a police cadet matched with an ex-police inspector with failing eyesight who became the best of friends, people who share the same faith, interests, etc. Every match has its own story. All matches are voluntary (there are no tax implications), families are involved throughout and whilst homesharing isn’t for everyone, it is predicted it will spread more widely over coming years mainly because it is simply a practical, cost-efficient way of people helping each other. Spread the word.
Fees vary, - Supportmatch’s average fees: Householder fee £99 per month, Homesharer fee: £149 per month. Fees are usually payable in advance for the term of the 6 to 12 month contract. Local Authority personal/individualised budgets can be usefully directed towards the costs.
Contact:
Tel: 020 3592 0152 (office hours or 24 hour answer service)
Mobile: 07742 807677 or 07847 072490
Supportmatch Coordinators: