The Home Sharing Scheme is a short break scheme facilitated by the HSE in Sligo and Leitrim. It involves caring for and sharing your home with a child or an adult with a disability and/or autism.
The Home Sharing Scheme is flexible. Host families or Host Carers offer a variety of break options including:
- A morning, afternoon or day per week
- A night per week or per month
- A weekend per month
- A longer break during holiday periods
The most suitable break will be agreed prior to commencement. It is envisaged that it will be an ongoing arrangement between the two parties.
For the person with the disability it is a chance to meet new people and provides an opportunity to do new things, make new friends and have a happy holiday. According to a guest who has been involved in home sharing “It stops looking like a service and starts feeling like a life”.
For parents/Carers it provides a short break, time to spend with their spouse and other children in the family and it may provide a chance to take a short holiday with the assurance that their loved one is being well cared for. According to one parent “It stops looking like a service and starts feeling like a life”.
For the host it is a chance to do something that is rewarding, challenging and worthwhile. It provides an invaluable opportunity for the host their family and their friends to get to know a child/adult with a disability and or autism. As one previous host stated “She is very much part of the family and we look forward to her visits”.
The Home Sharing Scheme welcomes all people from all walks of life. No formal qualifications are required. Currently our hosts consist of people who are working, retired, unemployed, with or without children, single, married, or with a partner.
To become a host family or host Carer simply contact a member of the Home Share Team. The Home Sharing Social Worker will discuss the scheme in more detail. A visit to the home or telephone call will be arranged and the Home Sharing Social Worker will help the host and the host family (if appropriate) to decide whether or not taking part in the scheme suits. A potential host will be invited to attend an information meeting at which the details of the scheme will be explained in greater detail.
Training in all aspects of care and support will be provided and host families or host Carers will have an opportunity to meet with others that are part of the Home Sharing Scheme.
The Home Sharing Scheme is a voluntary scheme with a contribution made to cover expenses that may be incurred. These details will be provided to host families or host Carer on enquiry or during the training period.
Please see YouTube link to short documentary on Home Share Galway https://youtu.be/zTLPBQHR9Ro
Information launch nights regarding Home Sharing Scheme Sligo/Leitrim will take place as follows:
- June 4th Radisson Hotel, Sligo – 7 to 8:30pm
- June 11th Bust Hotel, Carrickonshannon – 7 to 8:30pm
These information nights are open to the public to come along to find out more about home sharing and to have any questions they may have answered it is also an opportunity to hear from hosts who have been part of the scheme.
For more information please contact:
Ali Crowe Bergin or Eleanor Gallagher
HSE Disability Services Sligo/Leitrim
Telephone: 086 4634973/ 087 1150044
Aishling.Crowe@hse.ie or eleanor.gallagher@hse.ie Last updated on: 21 / 05 / 2019
