Carbon County officials are hoping a shared-housing program that aims to pair senior citizens with younger individuals in need of housing will help address the lack of affordable housing in the county.

On Thursday, the commissioners welcomed Kellie Cummings, the county Area Agency on Aging SHARE Housing counselor, who spoke about the program.

The agency administers the Shared Housing and Resource Exchange, known as SHARE.

Cummings said the program began in October and is in the application phase.

The program aims to match individuals to share housing and address the increasing need of affordable housing options for seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, working professionals, college students, people at risk for homelessness, single parents or people simply wishing to share their lives and homes.

Cummings said the program consists of a home host and a home seeker. Qualifications are one must be over the age of 18 and the other must be over the age of 60.

Applications are then cross-referenced to see if the two people would be good living mates and a meeting would be set up.

If they choose to try living together, the applicants then do a trial period, which can last up to two weeks, to see if they are compatible.

If they are, an agreement is drawn up and monthly rent for the home seeker is established. Rent can be both monetary or daily tasks, based on the home seeker’s resources.

Cummings said that by law, the rent can’t be more than 30% of the home seeker’s monthly income.

“The Department of Aging put this program together in hopes that someone is able to age into their home and their community,” she said, noting that this isn’t for those who need emergency housing or primary care assistance. “It’s considered a cost effective housing model due to the insufficient amount of affordable housing options, especially here in Carbon County.”

Cummings added that having someone else living in the home is also beneficial for older adults because it provides a sense of security, as well as socialization.

The SHARE program is currently looking for more individuals, both home hosts and home seekers, to apply for the program.

“I think it’s something that’s very important for our area because there are a lot of people who have lost a spouse or a partner and with the way the economy is right now, it’s hard to run a household with one income,” said Commissioner Rocky Ahner.

“This could be a great opportunity for two individuals to share housing costs to take a chunk out of the increasing cost of living.”

For more information on the SHARE program or to apply, call Cummings at 570-249-1159 or email her at kcummingssharecoordinator@ptd.net.