Home Sharing Match Up Program (NVCH)

SUCCESS STORY

Terri, Home Sharing Client (left) with Blanca, Home Sharing Coordinator (right)

HOME SHARING PROGRAM PROVIDES SAFETY, HAPPINESS, PEACE OF MIND FOR NAPA NATIVE
Born and raised in Napa, Terri attended Irene M. Snow Elementary, Ridgeview Jr. High and Napa High School. Terri moved away for a number of years and when she returned to Napa in 2016, Terri discovered many changes in her hometown. Finding an affordable place to live was the biggest challenge. A local agency referred her to the Home Sharing Match Up Program managed by NVCH and supported financially by the City of Napa and Napa County.
 
Blanca, NVCH’s Home Sharing Coordinator, assisted Terri with the application, interview, background checks and matching process. A match was made which provided lower rent in exchange for limited assistance for the Home Provider. 
 
Unfortunately, the first match didn’t work out and Terri ended up at a local motel spending her limited savings on a motel room but “at least I wasn’t sleeping in a car…yet.”
 
Knowing that Terri was at risk of homelessness, Blanca persisted and found a second match for her. This room has a separate entrance to the home giving Terri privacy and she doesn’t need to provide services for the Home Provider which allows Terri time for her housecleaning and pet sitting jobs. Terri can’t say enough about Blanca, “her personality, knowledge and skills are a blessing for people needing housing. She never made me feel uncomfortable, she’s thoughtful, kind, caring and was always gracious. NVCH needs a dozen more Blancas. She certainly makes this world a better place.” 

Today, Terri is enjoying peace and quiet, safety, happiness and Terri says she feels like a different person now that she has a place to call home.