Home Share Success

More Than Just Roommates…
Donna, Flora, Serena, and Pearl the mini chicken

What began as a roommate match made possible through ALA’s Shared Housing program has grown into something much deeper- a cross-cultural chosen family. 

At 90, homeowner Flora continued to live safely at home with the daily support of her daughter, Serena. But as Serena’s work started taking her out of town more frequently, they realized a roommate would be a necessity to provide day to day support. 

Bringing someone new into the home came with a few requirements: the roommate would need to be kind, reliable, and, most importantly, animal friendly. Why? Because Flora’s beloved mini chicken, Pearl, was part of the family and had strong opinions about household matters. 

That’s when ALA was notified and began the process of finding the ideal roommate. ALA’s Shared Housing team searched diligently to find just the right fit: a respectful, mature roommate willing to pitch in around the house, especially when Serena was away. They also made sure the new roommate would appreciate the Salvadoran culture that was such an integral aspect of their home. And lastly, they would need to accept beloved Pearl.

Enter Donna, who ALA matched with Flora and Serena in late 2024. A year later, Serena shared just how much this simple housing match had blossomed: 

“Donna, my mom Flora, and I continue to thrive together, and it’s hard to believe that more than a year has already passed. We truly cherish being part of one another’s lives and honor the deep sense of connection that has grown between us. 

What began as a match has become a genuine family bond, and we see one another as a true blessing. 

We are profoundly grateful to the Affordable Living for the Aging Shared Housing Program for bringing us together. This experience has gone far beyond shared housing – it has created a meaningful cultural and language exchange between Salvadoran and African American traditions that enriches our lives every day.  

Each evening at 5:00 p.m., we sit down together for a family dinner. It is a simple ritual, but one filled with love, laughter, and belonging. When you sit down to dinner with your own family, we hope you’ll think of us doing the same – made possible because of this remarkable program.” 

Their photo captures it best: there’s an easy sense of connection, and Pearl, as always, is right there in the middle of it. 

by
Maureen Tuohy