This report is dedicated to its author, Dorothy Mazeau (1947-2024), a 2024 Samuel Centre Fellow whose life and work were deeply intertwined with her passion for home sharing. Having embraced home sharing for most of her adult life, Dorothy firmly believed in its transformative potential to support aging in place for older adults.
Dorothy’s dedication and enthusiasm were boundless. Even in the face of illness, she was steadfastly committed to her research, completing this report in September 2024, just weeks before her passing after a courageous battle with cancer. Dr. Raza Mirza, who mentored her during her fellowship, and the entire team at HelpAge Canada will always remember her warmth, joy, and the energy she brought to every discussion — especially to our lively team lunches. Dorothy will be profoundly missed.
As early as the 1970s, the idea of sharing housing with others who were not in a familial relationship began to take root, leading to the founding of the National Shared Housing Resource Center in the United States in 1980.
Today, there is a resurgence of interest in home sharing, due to the joint crises of isolation and housing affordability mentioned above. This current study has been undertaken to dig into the roots of home sharing, highlighting the lessons learned, exploring where new shoots are beginning to develop, and recommending ways in which they can be nurtured.