THE HomeShare connects older adults and people with a disability with vetted, caring companions at a fraction of the cost of any alternative.
Keep your independence with companionship, overnight presence & practical support.
Affordable accommodation in exchange for 10 hours of support per week.
Ireland's only Homeshare programme with full Garda vetting for every sharer.
Award-winning social enterprise.
Homeshare is a simple concept with wide-ranging benefits for everyone involved. Householders with a spare room are carefully matched with Garda-vetted professionals or students based on support needs, shared interests, and personality. In exchange for their room, Homesharers provide 10 hours of practical support, companionship, and an overnight presence each week.
Have a home they're open to sharing and need a little support, companionship, and a reassuring overnight presence.
Garda-vetted, reference-checked individuals who receive accommodation in exchange for 10 hrs/week of support and companionship.
THE HomeShare provides ongoing monitoring and support for the full duration of every arrangement. You're never on your own.
Loneliness and anxiety at home can put independence at risk even when you're otherwise capable and healthy.
Private homecare can cost €127,000 per year. Most families simply can't afford the support their loved one needs.
THE HomeShare delivers companionship, safety, and practical support for as little as €55 per week, 97% less than private care.
THE HomeShare is not just the most human option, it's overwhelmingly the most affordable. See how we compare to every alternative.
| Provider | 10 hrs p/w | Overnight (×6) | Weekly cost | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSE | €260 | No funding | €260 (days only) | €13,520 |
| Private homecare provider | €350 | €2,100 | €2,450 | €127,000 |
| Private arrangement | €200 | €900 | €1,100 | €57,200 |
| THE HomeShare Save 97% | €55 | Included | €55 | €2,880 |
* Based on current market figures. Private arrangement based on cash-in-hand rates. Costing inclusive of overnight presence.
We handle everything from matching to monitoring so you can focus on living well.
Initial contact and householder's needs and personality assessment.
We find suitable Homesharers; Garda vetting, references, interviews.
Meet and sign a bespoke Homeshare Agreement (non-tenancy, non-employment).
Live-in trial with coordinator support and 24/7 contact.
Monthly monitoring and continued support if the match continues.
Hear from the families, householders and homesharers whose lives THE HomeShare has transformed.
My sharer is excellent! He is so polite, mannerly and friendly. My sharer comes home from work and we chat for a couple of hours. You couldn't have picked a better person for me.
Mum is settling into the nursing home but if it wasn't for THE HomeShare, Mum wouldn't have been able to stay at home for as long as she did. Thank you, it is such a great service.
As one of your sharers I can honestly say your scheme has changed my life. Being freed from the shackles of making rising rents each month I have been able to reassess what I want and where my future is going. Thanks to the financial freedom of homesharing I am now in the position to retrain in a brand new profession and take the pay cut that comes with that. This is something I couldn't have even considered if still renting.
The support that is given by THE HomeShare is second to none. The householder can lift the phone anytime if there is a problem of any sort. I think it's an amazing thing and I would like to see more people taking part in this. It's a two way street beneficial to both.
THE HomeShare is a superb model enabling a vulnerable adult to remain in their home for longer than would be possible to do alone; It gives concerned relatives reassurance and peace of mind that their loved one is not alone, that there is a responsible adult present in the home, and should the need arise unexpectedly, they can be contacted or indeed the emergency services called should that be necessary. CEO, Lucie Cunningham and her team are superbly supportive and it is evident they each possess a genuine concern for the wellbeing and happiness of their vulnerable clients. It certainly is a very cost-effective option and one I hope might be considered for me, should the need arise, affording me the chance to stay in my own home - my own environment, where like most we feel safest and happiest.
THE HomeShare team is exceptionally responsive and engaged with their clients, they provide a very high level of care for client and families. Their service has transformed the life of my ageing aunt.
Real people, real impact. Meet the people driving Ireland's Homeshare movement.
Lucie founded THE HomeShare in 2017 after two decades in nursing, healthcare, and homecare across the UK and Ireland. Under her leadership, Homesharing has been written into Irish government policy (a global first) and continues to grow as a practical answer to Ireland's housing and care challenges. She also sits on the board of Homeshare International.
Meet the teamOur story is being told in boardrooms, in newsrooms, and in government policy.
We won the FBD Local Business Award for our innovative solution to Ireland's housing and isolation crises, showing our dedication to fostering multi-generational connection.
RTÉ explores how THE HomeShare is addressing two of Ireland's biggest social challenges simultaneously: loneliness among older adults and the affordable housing shortage.
A successful match showcasing how THE HomeShare addresses both the need for companionship and independent living and the ongoing affordable housing crisis in Ireland.
Hosted by Dublin's Lord Mayor Ray McAdam, this special event brought together householders, sharers, and families to celebrate the impact of intergenerational living and the release of our latest annual report.
With rents rising, finding a place to live for a reasonable amount of money as a single person is becoming more challenging. This alternative home share option could be for some.
In 2023, THE HomeShare supported 93 new homeshare matches, housing 86 individuals seeking affordable accommodation.
A landmark achievement for THE HomeShare and the thousands of families who depend on it. Read the full Homeshare International report.
A feature story detailing how THE HomeShare supported pensioners Eddie and Mavis hit the jackpot by finding a wonderful person to share their home, who quickly became like family.
In this episode, Lucie Cunningham, CEO and founder of THE HomeShare, talks about setting up a social enterprise, helping others find a home while losing your own and why making your employees feel part of something worthwhile is so important.
Lucie Cunningham was on Cork’s 96FM Opinion Line on June 17, 2021.The segment aired following an official Cork's 96FM Interview Request to discuss how the homesharing model could alleviate the escalating summer housing crisis for solo renters and students in the Cork region.
Lucie Cunningham’s social enterprise is so beautifully simple and solves so many problems for so many people at such a low cost, it is a wonder it hadn’t been done in Ireland before she entered the frame.
In this case, widow Colette Conway has opened her home to young professional, David Donnelly, who's been struggling to find a place to live, due to record rents.
Homeshare, which was launched about a year ago, matches people who need companionship and some practical help to live independently at home with people who need accommodation
"I feel more secure," John (86) says with having Amy (28) around while Amy, a student, says living with John is a lot easier than her previous cramped living situation where it was overcrowded, busy, and took a toll on her grades.
Or Homeshare, first established in America over 40 years ago and now in 16 countries. It matches two unrelated people to live together for mutual benefit.
An Irish company has been set up that connects lonely older people with students and professionals looking for somewhere to live.
A newly launched Irish company is aiming to match up elderly home owners with empty rooms with students or young professionals.
The scheme is relatively new in Ireland, but is already getting a huge amount of interest from those looking for somewhere to live
