We connect householders with students or professionals 21+ looking for accommodation, creating arrangements that solve two of Ireland's most pressing social challenges at once.
THE HomeShare was founded by a team with over 80 years of combined professional experience in the Healthcare and Homecare sectors. We saw two problems growing in parallel: older people struggling to remain safely in their own homes, and younger people unable to afford a place to live, and realised the answer to one was sitting inside the other.
Our model is simple but powerful: carefully match a Householder who has a room and needs a helping hand with a Homesharer who can offer company and support in exchange for low-cost accommodation. Both parties gain. The community gains.
As a multi-award-winning social enterprise, we take pride in doing this with rigour: mandatory Garda Vetting, bespoke Homeshare Agreements, and a dedicated team available around the clock.
Meet Our Team
We run two distinct programmes depending on what you need. Both are managed by our team, both involve careful matching, and both are rooted in the same belief that shared living done right changes lives.
Homesharing pairs an older Householder, someone with a home who needs company and a helping hand, with a Homesharer who provides around 10 hours of practical support per week, plus an overnight presence, in exchange for low-cost accommodation.
Help4Housing is our rental-market programme for householders who want a vetted housemate: someone who pays reduced market rent and provides 5 hours of practical help per week. Unlike Homesharing, there is no expectation of an overnight presence, making it ideal for working professionals or hybrid arrangements.
Both plans include our core matching, safeguarding and Garda vetting. The difference is how much hands-on involvement you want from our team.
| Feature | Homeshare Connect | Homeshare Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Setup cost (incl. VAT) | €98.40 | €430 |
| Monthly support fee (incl. VAT) | €98.40 | €240 |
| Assessment type | Online only | Online + in-person |
| Introductions facilitated by team | — | ✓ |
| Monthly monitoring visits | — | ✓ |
| WhatsApp group monitoring | Light-touch | Active monitoring |
| Ongoing match monitoring | Light-touch | Full, ongoing |
| Garda vetting | ✓ | ✓ |
| 24/7 on-call support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Homeshare Agreement documents | ✓ | ✓ |
From first enquiry to settled arrangement, we're with you every step of the way.
A Householder, family member, or healthcare professional contacts us. We arrange an assessment to understand existing supports, needs, and expectations, lishing what a Homesharer could complement.
We identify suitable Homesharers and carry out thorough checks including mandatory Garda Vetting, reference checking, and interviews. We are Ireland's only Homeshare programme to make Garda Vetting mandatory for all Sharers.
We facilitate an introduction between both parties and work with everyone to finalise a bespoke Homeshare Agreement. This carefully worded document protects both the Householder and the Homesharer, it creates neither a tenancy nor an employment contract.
A move-in date is agreed and the 2-week Trial Period begins. Our Coordinator stays in regular contact with both parties throughout. Our team is also available 24/7 by phone for any concerns.
If both parties are happy to continue after the trial, the arrangement moves to a monthly support model. We continue to monitor the match and remain available, because a good Homeshare doesn't just happen; it's maintained.
After a lengthy hospital stay, Clare, a wheelchair user in her 50s, experienced loneliness and anxiety living alone. Miriam, in her 20s, had recently moved to Ireland and was seeking stability and connection. Through THE HomeShare, they were matched, creating a supportive living arrangement that benefited them both.
Read their story
At 96, Pat wanted the reassurance of not being alone at night while continuing to live independently. Through HomeShare, he welcomed Martin and Mary into his home, gaining companionship, security, and social connection. In return, Martin and Mary benefit from affordable housing while providing meaningful support that helps Pat age well in his own home.
Read their storyEven though Homeshare is a simple concept, it is often mistaken for other kinds of arrangements. Understanding the difference matters for safeguarding, for expectations, and for the law.