Complete job description available here.

Every year since 1963, May has been the month to appreciate and celebrate the vitality and aspirations of older adults and reflect upon their contributions and achievements. It is a proud tradition that shows our nation’s commitment to honor the value that elders continue to contribute to our communities. Home Share Now’s Ry Parcell says “all of Home Share Now’s home providers offer depth–local history, forgotten skills and technique, and life experience; all of this plus affordable housing!”

This year’s Older Americans Month theme of “Unleash the Power of Age!” emphasizes the important role of older adults.

This May, communities across the nation will recognize older Americans as productive, active, and influential members of society. Because every older American deserves to age at home, Home Share Now is waiving its enrollment fee for the months of April, May, and June 2013. Background checks, interviews, and personal references required. Furthermore, those people matched in those same months will get 50% off their final match fee, a potential savings of up to $300.

Parcell says that Home Share Now is especially looking for home seekers who are flexible, are willing to live in central Vermont, and can provide 5-10 hours of work per week for a local elder in exchange for low cost or no cost housing. Possible work to include transportation, grocery shopping, cooking, companionship, and/or a protective presence.

To learn more about how home sharing can unleash the power of age, contact Home Share Now!

Presenting…The Portrait Project!

What does home sharing look like? Photographer John Lazenby set out to answer this question when he took on the Home Share Now Portrait Project. Thanks to a grant from Concept2, the project is now on display and will be traveling around Vermont’s Lamoille, Orange, and Washington counties throughout the year.

Through a blend of posed portraits and snapshots of daily living, the Portrait Project captures the varied relationships among Home Share Now participants. You may be surprised to see how familiar home sharing looks to you!

Showing through June 4:
Tegu Building, Portland Street, Morrisville

June 4 – July 6:
White River Craft Center, Randolph

July 8 – August 14
The Hub, Main Street, Johnson

August 15 – September 7
River Arts Center, Morrisville
Thursday, August 16 join Home Share Now and photographer John Lazenby for an Opening Reception at River Arts, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Learn more!

September 10 – November 12
Espresso Bueno, North Main Street, Barre

November 13 – December 17
Montpelier Senior Activity Center, Barre Street, Montpelier

Tuesday, November 27 – Home Share Now will speak at the Shared Housing Symposium in Los Angeles to share its marketing and messaging, including mention of The Portrait Project. Big thanks to our host ALA (Affordable Living for the Aging).

December 19 – December 28
Helen Day Art Center, Stowe

January 9 – February 27
Chelsea Public Library, Main Street/Vermont Route 110, Chelsea

March 4 – April 30
Randolph Town Offices, 7 Summer Street, Randolph

May 1 – May 30 (tentative)
National Life Building/Cafeteria, Montpelier

John Lazenby is a former managing editor of Vermont Life magazine and a photojournalist whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Vermont Life, and Country Journal, among other publications. In addition to his work for Home Share Now he has recently been helping the Vermont Community Foundation document relief efforts in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene.

Home Share Now’s mission is to help central Vermonters develop successful home shares in order to create affordable housing options with positive community and environmental impacts. Can you see yourself in this picture?

Home Share Now is teaming up with the Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District to host a free Button Up Vermont workshop.

The workshop will be held Wednesday, May 23 from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce. Button Up Vermont is an informational session designed to help Vermonters learn the basics of building science and how to improve energy efficiency in their homes.

The Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce is located at 33 Stewart Road, in Berlin.

Dave Fowler, operations manager at CVCAC Weatherization, will present the workshop. Dave is also a BPI-certified contractor and he will be able to answer participant’s specific questions about their homes and businesses.

Button Up Vermont was originally developed in 2008 by Central Vermont Community Action Council and is offered this year in partnership with Efficiency Vermont. It includes an overview of why building efficiency is so important here in Vermont, illustrates how homes lose energy, and outlines clear steps that homeowners can take to address this energy loss.

Owners of homes and businesses in central Vermont are invited to attend to learn about actions they can take to lower energy bills and make their homes and businesses more comfortable and affordable.

“We’re offering this workshop because with rising heating costs, everyone needs to be thinking about ways to make their homes more efficient,” said Home Share Now Executive Director Christina Goodwin. “We hope that by sharing this information, we can help home share participants and other central Vermonters be more comfortable in their homes and gain greater control of their heating expenses.”

Home Share Now is co-hosting this workshop after expanding its mission in 2010 to include promoting energy efficiency and environmentally sound decision making among home share participants.

For more information on the Button Up Vermont workshops visit buttonupvt.com.

This time of year, many retired Vermonters are returning home from a winter away in warmer climates. At Home Share Now, we’re helping an increasing number of these “snow birds” make home share matches that provide them with company while they’re home and peace of mind while they’re away.

Case in point is Janet, who recently returned to the Barre home she shares with newlyweds David and Grace. David first moved in with Janet as a bachelor, and helped her with chores around the house. Now he and his bride keep the home fires burning while Janet heads south for the coldest months.

Janet knew she could count on David and Grace to take care of her home while she was away. What she wasn’t expecting was to come home to a bouquet of fresh flowers on the table and a homemade lemon blueberry cake in her refrigerator.

Here’s wishing you a spring full of pleasant surprises from the Home Share Now team!

Buy raffle tickets at the Barre office or purchase online by making a donation–just put “raffle” in the comments section.

$10 for 1, $20 for 3, $40 for 6!

Proceeds will be matched by local supporter Gardner Insurance Services.

This dollhouse was built and painted by Julio Lavin with the help of John Micknick especially for Home Share Now using materials donated by Real Good Toys (www.realgoodtoys.com) in Barre. John and Julio frequently build custom dollhouses for local non-profit organization raffles. The furnishings were donated by Candy Diamond.

Dollhouse details (and there are lots of them!):

 Finished and stained floors
 Painted interior trim, doors, stairs
 Custom windows and lace curtains
 Stained wooden roof shingles and painted exterior
 Working interior and exterior doors
 Front porch and two balconies
 6 full-size rooms plus a smaller tower room
 Partially furnished with room for your custom touch!

In 2011 we reached out to home sharers using facebook, twitter, Craig’s List, Front Porch Forum, and our own revamped website.

Now we’re excited to announce a new tool to help virtually spread the word about home sharing.

With the help of Green River Pictures, we’ve put together a series of six video segments to help explain who we are, what we do, and why it’s important to home share. Thanks to John Lazenby for his still photography.

Check out all the clips at our new Home Share Now YouTube channel!