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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | November 25, 2019 10:56 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Thomas P. Murt |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | SHARE Program Funding Expansion |
| I plan to introduce legislation that would establish a funding source for the Shared Housing and Resource Exchange (SHARE) program through the Pennsylvania Department of Aging. Currently, this program is funded through a three-year Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) grant. This funding program requires that the money follows the person through a home sharing model. The pilot program funding will expire in September 2020. Creating a grant program will expand the breadth of this tri-county program, that has proven to be very successful, to providing alternative housing options for all Pennsylvanians. By means of background, the SHARE pilot program is currently operating in three Pennsylvania counties: Pike, Wayne, and Monroe. These counties were identified due to rising property taxes and costs in addition, there is a lack of personal care facilities and assisted living homes for older adults. The program is a cost-effective housing model that matches applicants based on their interests, geographic preference, and lifestyle choices. Since December 2017, there have been 338 applications, with a total of 32 matches. The requirements to participate in the SHARE program are that the host homes are located in one of the three counties mentioned above, all applicants be over the age of 18, one person in the match must be over the age of 60, the sharer must have their own bedroom, the sharer can only be charged 30% of their gross income, and that there is a home sharing agreement in place. The SHARE program is critical to provide affordable housing options for our aging population. In addition to the financial benefit, this program provides individuals with the opportunity to receive resources and support from those they share the residence with. This program provides mutual benefit to all parties involved and is critical to sustaining the well-being of those involved in the program. Please join me in supporting this alternative housing program and implementing the pilot program in more counties across the Commonwealth. This alternative housing program can provide services for participants in addition to companionship, security, and peace of mind. |
Introduced as HB2234