HomeShare project to start in September

with, go for a walk or just have a conversation.”

The project will facilitate the matching process, which will include home assessment and background safety screening, to be done in conjunction with Toronto police, Salomons said. While some guidance will be offered, the rent price will be decided by homeowners, she said.

HomeShare projects have already been successful in smaller regions such as Halton and Northumberland County.

Councillor Josh Matlow, who spearheads the city’s seniors strategy, said HomeShare is a creative and effective way to address the issue of seniors who need care and young people who need housing.

“Young people are leaving Toronto because they can’t afford the rent, and our elderly people are struggling,” he said. “That’s why we need to address these issues proactively.”

Rosemary Foulds and Alan Ritchie, who also attended the information session, are retired and live in a three-bedroom apartment near High Park. They use only one of the rooms, and say the HomeShare project can help find ideal tenants who can also keep them company.

“What you want is a reciprocal relationship, somebody who becomes like your companion,” Ritchie said.

Elizabeth Hill has compiled seven “guest books” filled with photos and thank-you notes from dozens of international students who have stayed with her over the past two decades.

Ninety-five per cent of her experiences with young renters have been positive, she said.

When Julio Hernandez, 32, arrived on Hill’s doorstep from Cuba in 2011, they agreed he could stay in her home for a six-month trial period as he set out to earn his master’s degree.

The benefits of the arrangement can go far beyond reduced living costs, he said.

“At this point, I see her more like a friend than my landlady. She’s like my Toronto family.”

from With files from The Canadian Press