Sharing is caring, and when it comes to life as a single parent, sharing a home with another single parent provides emotional support and eases financial pressures.
So, it's exciting to see the launch of a website called ShareAbode. This Australia-wide platform is all about connecting single parents who want to share a home and everyday expenses.
"ShareAbode works on the principle that two single parents raising children together, sharing resources, rent and living expenses together can achieve more than one going it alone," explains ShareAbode's founder, Willo Ford.
What are the main benefits of house-sharing?
By pairing up under one roof, single parents are able to:
- Live in a more ideal home, perhaps in a safer area
- Halve everyday expenses
- Save more money
- Share parental duties, like cooking and cleaning
- Reduce stress and gain emotional support
- Make friends and create unofficial 'siblings' for the children
For single parents with no rental history, it's a chance to rent through another parent, rather than a real estate agency. And home sharing also helps those single parents trying to pay off a mortgage.
So how does ShareAbode work?
ShareAbode connects people via their member profile listings. Each single parent lists themselves as 'The Home Seeker' or 'The Home Sharer' and creates a profile containing:
- Family information, including pets and employment
- Photos
- Their budget
- Their location in Australia
- The type of home they're seeking or offering
- A description of their ideal home sharer
And although ShareAbode offers free membership, parents are encouraged to get verified as part of the paid membership. Verification involves a National Police Check and Personality Profile, then it's a matter of connecting with potentially compatible single parents.
To do this, members message, organise meet-ups and with a bit of luck, find a brilliant single parent family to share a home with.
So, if you're a single parent or know someone who'd benefit from ShareAbode, then have a look at the new site. It's a really great platform with the potential to change lives for the better.
You can also read more about single parents and child care here.
