On Thursday 30 March the Kitchen Table Host Family Network Peer Group, with the support of DDWA and WAiS, held a 3-hour workshop on shared living arrangements; also called host family or co-tenancy.
Shared living arrangements are becoming more popular as a good way for people who need support to live in a family or co-tenancy situation which provides all the benefits of close relationships within a home environment.
The forum included talks from people who are hosts; their experiences and the supports they need in their supporting role. It emphasised that host families do become “family” in that sense of a close relationship you have when you live together.
A presentation was also given by a service agency; explaining the supports it provides to host families or co-tenants and also the positive partnership relationships which make the arrangements work, including working with the person who needs support, their family/carers, the hosts or co-tenants and the service agency. The presenters emphasised that every host or co-tenancy arrangement is different and needs to be moulded around the needs of all parties.
WA Individualised Services then provided information about the logistics, regulations, payment arrangements, tax, insurances and industrial relations factors which people need to be aware of and comply with.
The workshop was very popular with 63 people attending and a further 30 people on the waitlist, so another workshop is planned for later in the year.
People attending included families considering co-tenancy and host family options, service providers and people already in those arrangements.
For more information contact Jill Bowman – 0400 513 943 – jsbowman@bigpond.net.au