Denver Seniors Turn to $800 Home-Sharing to Age in Place
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 27
Denver Seniors Turn to $800 Home-Sharing to Age in Place
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 27
Summary
$800 a month let 79-year-old Susan Beese move into 89-year-old Shirley Jennett’s Denver home, giving Jennett companionship and help after falls while allowing both women to afford their housing.
Rents topping $1,500 for a one-bedroom apartment pushed Beese out of her previous place, while Jennett wanted to remain in her ranch house rather than move into senior housing.
The arrangement includes a lower-level two-bedroom space for Beese in exchange for rent and help with gardening, trash and occasional meals — a practical version of the 'Golden Girls' model.
Sunshine Home Share Colorado, a nonprofit founded in 2016, matches older adults as rising housing costs and years-long waits for subsidized senior housing drive more seniors to seek shared living.
As 'Golden Girls' living arrangements rise, what unseen risks and legal conflicts could homeowners face?
Is senior home-sharing a solution to the housing crisis or a symptom of a failing social support system?
Beyond individual matches, how can cities redesign policies to foster more community-based senior living?
Affordable Aging: Denver’s Senior Home-Sharing Programs Make 138 Matches, Tackling Housing and Loneliness (2025)
Overview
Denver is seeing a strong rise in senior home-sharing initiatives, which have become an important answer to the city’s growing housing challenges for older adults. This trend is fueled by major demographic changes, as Colorado’s population aged 65 and above has more than doubled in the past twenty years and is expected to keep growing. Many seniors live on fixed incomes, but the local housing market is becoming less affordable due to rising costs. As a result, home-sharing offers a timely and practical solution, helping seniors find stable and affordable living arrangements.