For many individuals with disabilities, living independently — or semi-independently — is a realistic and desirable goal. Shared living arrangements are one of the most flexible and community-integrated options available, and they are increasingly supported by state Medicaid waiver programs.

What Is Shared Living?

Shared living (sometimes called host home, family home, or shared supports) is a residential arrangement where an individual with a disability lives with a family or individual who provides support in exchange for compensation. Unlike traditional group homes, shared living is typically in a private home setting with a small number of residents.

Types of Shared Living Models

  • Host home / family model: The individual with a disability lives with a private family or individual (the “host”) who provides daily support. The host is typically paid through a Medicaid waiver.
  • Apartment sharing: Two or more individuals with disabilities live together in an apartment, often with staff support provided on a scheduled basis.
  • Intentional communities: Purpose-built communities designed for mixed populations of people with and without disabilities, providing natural community integration.

Funding and Medicaid Waivers

Most shared living arrangements are funded through Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid waivers. Each state has different waiver programs with different eligibility criteria, service definitions, and reimbursement rates. Access often involves a waitlist. Contacting your state’s developmental disabilities agency is the starting point.

Financial Planning Implications

The shift from parental home to shared living is one of the most significant transitions in a special needs financial plan. It affects SSI calculations (housing provided at no cost or reduced cost may count as In-Kind Support and Maintenance, reducing SSI), ABLE account usage, SNT distribution patterns, and the family’s own retirement planning.

Planning for housing transitions early — ideally a decade before the anticipated move — gives families time to build the right funding structures, understand waitlist dynamics, and prepare the individual for the transition.