Safer with Homeshare
When Homeshare Co-ordinator Tim Crahart delivers presentations or talks to people about Homeshare, one of the top questions he gets asked is, ‘Is Homeshare safe?’ And rightly so, because safeguarding should be at the top of everyone’s agenda.
Homeshare comes with robust processes and good practices to ensure that it is delivered as safely and effectively as it can be – more detail on that later – but first let’s look at the problems that can happen when older people live on their own, and when younger people are forced to live in inappropriate housing.
An easy target
In 2019, Age UK’s analysis of official crime figures in England and Wales showed that an older person becomes a victim of fraud every 40 seconds. According to National Trading Standards, whilst older people account for 18 percent of the population, 85 percent of victims of doorstop scams are over 65. An older person living alone is an easy target for a scammer.
A study from 2006 conducted by the Centre for Criminal Justice Studies found that 82 percent of victims of distraction burglary were over the age of 70. Sadly, older people are often targeted because of their age, because they live on their own and, in some cases, just because they are lonely. Tim was told a story at a recent event, of an older man returning from the shops with some bags. He met some younger people who offered to give him a hand with his shopping. They helped him back home with his bags and then, while one distracted him, the other went into a room and stole from him. He realised this but still let them come back the next week. When asked why he hadn’t done anything about it and why he let them back in, he simply said he liked having the company.
The Poor Relation report in 2019 conducted by the Police and CPS found that older people are also more likely to fear becoming a victim of crime when compared to other age groups. That worry and anxiety can have a detrimental effect on their health and wellbeing, even if nothing has actually happened.
Health risks
According to the NHS around a third of adults over 65 and half of people over 80 will have at least one fall a year. Whilst many will have no injuries or recover quickly, the longer the person remains on the floor, the greater the long-term effects. This could include dehydration, pneumonia, hypothermia as well as pressure sores. Living alone increases the risk of someone not being found for some time after experiencing a fall.
Alongside this are the health risks associated with loneliness and isolation. The National Institute on Ageing conducted a study which found that prolonged isolation has the same physical impact on individuals as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
When you consider the risk of crime, the impact on mental health and wellbeing as well as the risk to health due to isolation and loneliness, you have to ask yourself how safe is it for an older person to live without Homeshare?
Money worries and poor-quality accommodation
We’ve looked firstly at older people but younger people, those who can become Homesharers, also face risks.
A report in 2022 by Public Health Wales found that 30 percent of people said the cost-of-living crisis was having a negative impact on their physical health and over 43 percent said it was having a negative effect on their mental health.
The same report said that there had been a 25 percent rise in people living in temporary accommodation and a 38 per cent rise in people sleeping rough. Potential Homesharers might also be living in inappropriate or poor housing. A report from Shelter Cymru in 2021 found that a third of people in Wales are living in unsafe or unaffordable housing. The report went on to say that a quarter of people are living in homes with significant damp, mould or condensation problems.
Living sociably is a win-win for both parties and some Homesharers Householders say one of their main reasons for taking part in Homeshare, as well as a helping hand for them, is to help give a young person a safe and affordable place to live.
Homeshare is safer
All providers in the Homeshare UK network take safeguarding very seriously; it’s a key reason people choose to use the providers in the network to make a suitable and safe match for them.
Prospective Householders and Homesharers are assessed and interviewed, DBS checks are undertaken and references are requested. Family members of the older person are also typically also involved in the process. The prospective Householders and Homesharers are able to meet as many times as they need to before agreeing to a match and agreements are put in place between them to clarify expectations. By the time the match starts, people are no longer strangers. After the match has begun, it is monitored by the Homeshare Co-ordinator to ensure that everything is running safely and smoothly. A trial period at the start helps make sure everything works out.
The Homesharer provides an overnight presence in the home, reassuring the Householder and reducing anxiety. The companionship they provide also combats any loneliness and isolation the Householder may have been experiencing. They can help protect and guard against fraud whether it appears on the doorstep, online or over the phone. If a fall does occur, they can ensure a timely response, so that the impact is minimised.
In return, the Householder provides safe, secure and affordable accommodation to the Homesharer.
Because of all this, we at Homeshare UK believe that people are safer with Homeshare.
As one 95-year-old Householder said of her life before Homesharing, “In a way it’s quite frightening because you don’t know, are you going to have a fall, is something going to happen to you?”
After she was matched with a Homesharer she said, “To hear the key in the lock around about six o’clock at night is wonderful.”
That says it all.
Dathlu tri chartref sydd bellach yn gweithredu yng Nghymru ar Ddydd Gŵyl Dewi
Mae’r Dydd Gŵyl Dewi hwn yn dathlu lansiad llwyddiannus tri chynllun Homeshare ledled Cymru, yn Abertawe, Sir Benfro a Gwynedd, gan gynnig cyfle i fwy o bobl fyw yn gymdeithasol ac yn fforddiadwy, beth bynnag eu hoedran.
Nod y rhaglenni ydi mynd i’r afael â materion allweddol ym maes cymdeithas fel unigrwydd ac unigedd yn ogystal â’r argyfwng tai. Yng Nghymru dywedodd 54% o bobl rhwng 60-74 a 49% o bobl 75+ oed, eu bod yn teimlo’n unig weithiau (ONS) ond maent eisiau aros i fyw gartref am gyfnod hirach. Mae pobl iau yn cael eu prisio allan o’r pentrefi, trefi, a dinasoedd maent eisiau byw ynddyn, ar gyfer gwaith neu astudio.
Bydd pobl hŷn sy’n byw ar eu pen eu hunain yn cael eu paru gyda’r rhai sy’n chwilio am lety fforddiadwy gan dair rhaglen Homeshare Cymru.
Cysylltu â ni
Os ydych yn adnabod rhywun allai gael budd o Homeshare yng Nghymru, cysylltwch â ni gan ddefnyddio’r manylion isod:
Mae Rhannu Cartref Gwynedd Homeshare yn rhan o Cyngor Gwynedd – cysylltwch â nhw trwy e-bost ar rhannucartref@gwynedd.llyw.cymru
Ewch i Pembrokeshire Homeshare, rhan o Gymdeithas Gofal Sir Benfro yn homeshare.pembrokeshirecaresociety.co.uk
Celebrating two Homeshares now operating in Wales this St David’s Day
This St David’s Day we’re celebrating the successful launch of two Homeshares across Wales, in Swansea and Gwynedd, offering more people the opportunity to live sociably and affordably, whatever their age.
The programmes aim to tackle key issues in society such as loneliness and isolation as well as the housing crisis. In Wales 54% of people aged 60-74 and 49% of people 75+ years, said they felt lonely sometimes (ONS) but they want to stay living at home for longer. Younger people are being priced out of the villages, towns, and cities they want to live in, for work or study.
Older people living alone will be matched with those seeking affordable accommodation by the three Welsh Homeshare programmes.
Get in touch
If you know someone who might benefit from a Homeshare in Wales, get in touch using the details below:
Rhannu Cartref Gwynedd Homeshare is part of Cyngor Gwynedd – contact them via email on homeshare@gwynedd.llyw.cymru
Visit Shared Homes Swansea, part of Swansea Council for Voluntary Service, at scvs.org.uk/shs
Rhannu Cartref Gwynedd – lansio’r ail peilot yng Nghymru
Yr wythnos hon, mae’r ail gwasanaeth Rhannu Cartref yng Nghymru yn dechrau; bydd Rhannu Cartref Gwynedd yn paru pobl sy’n byw ar eu pen eu hunain ac sydd angen ychydig o gymorth ychwanegol i barhau i fyw’n annibynnol gartref, gyda’r rhai sy’n chwilio am lety fforddiadwy yng Ngwynedd a’r cyffiniau.
Yr wythnos hon, mae’r trydydd gwasanaeth Rhannu Cartref yng Nghymru yn dechrau; bydd Rhannu Cartref Gwynedd yn paru pobl sy’n byw ar eu pen eu hunain ac sydd angen ychydig o gymorth ychwanegol i barhau i fyw’n annibynnol gartref, gyda’r rhai sy’n chwilio am lety fforddiadwy yng Ngwynedd a’r cyffiniau.
Nod y rhaglen yw mynd i’r afael â phroblemau allweddol mewn cymdeithas fel unigrwydd a theimlo’n ynysig yn ogystal â’r argyfwng tai. Yng Nghymru, dywedodd 54% o bobl rhwng 60-74 a 49% o bobl 75+ oed eu bod yn teimlo’n unig weithiau (ONS) ond eu bod eisiau parhau i fyw gartref am gyfnod hirach. Mae pobl iau yn cael eu prisio allan o’r pentrefi, trefi, a dinasoedd lle maent eisiau byw, i weithio neu astudio. Mae’r ffigurau diweddaraf unwaith eto’n dangos bod y cyfartaledd oedran y gall pobl adael cartref, hyd yn oed i rentu, yn codi ynghyd â chyfran yr incwm sy’n cael ei wario ar dai. Mae llawer o bobl ganol oed a hŷn hefyd yn canfod hunain heb opsiynau tai fforddiadwy ar ôl effaith y pandemig.
Mae Homeshare UK a Rhannu Cartref Gwynedd, rhan o Gyngor Gwynedd yn lansio’r drydedd raglen beilot yng Nghymru i gynnig cyfle i fwy o bobl fyw yn gymdeithasol ac yn fforddiadwy beth bynnag eu hoedran.
Ymunwch â Rhannu Cartref Gwynedd a Homeshare UK ar-lein ar gyfer y lansiad ddydd Mercher 11 Ionawr rhwng 1-2pm.
I holi am Rannu Cartref yng Ngwynedd, cysylltwch â rhannucartref@gwynedd.llyw.cymru
Rhannu Cartref Gwynedd Homeshare – second pilot in Wales launches
This week, the second Homeshare service in Wales is starting; Rhannu Cartref Gwynedd Homeshare will match people living alone who require a little extra help to continue living independently at home, with those seeking affordable accommodation in and around Gwynedd, Wales.
Homeshare UK and Rhannu Cartref Gwynedd Homeshare, part of Cyngor Gwynedd are launching the third Welsh pilot programme to offer more people the opportunity to live sociably and affordably whatever their age.
Join Rhannu Cartref Gwynedd Homeshare and Homeshare UK online for the launch this Wednesday 11th January from 1-2pm.
To enquire about Homeshare in Gwynedd contact homeshare@gwynedd.llyw.cymru
Ymuno â’r ymgyrch Dan Un To
Wrth deithio o gwmpas Cymru a siarad am Rhannu Cartref, mae’n anhygoel faint o bobl sy’n dweud wrthych chi, ‘fe wnes i rywbeth fel ‘na pan o’n i’n iau,’ neu ‘mae rhywun dwi’n nabod wedi cymryd person ifanc i mewn.’ Mae’n ymddangos bod pontio’r cenedlaethau wedi digwydd erioed ac fel yna y bydd pethau, felly dylen ni yn Homeshare UK ddathlu hynny!
Er ein bod yn aml yn clywed straeon sy’n gosod un genhedlaeth yn erbyn y llall gan achosi rhaniad ac ysgogi gwahaniaethu, roedden ni’n meddwl y byddai’n wych casglu straeon am sut mae’r cenedlaethau wedi dod at ei gilydd a byw gyda’i gilydd. Wnaethoch chi rannu tŷ gyda pherson hŷn pan oeddech chi yn y brifysgol neu pan ddechreuoch chi weithio? Ydych chi wedi agor eich cartref a’i rannu gyda pherson iau oedd angen llety? Byddem wrth ein boddau’n clywed eich atgofion. Beth oedd yn dda amdano, beth oedd yn gweithio, ydych chi wedi cadw mewn cysylltiad?
Yn aml rydyn ni’n clywed straeon am bobl nad oedd yn perthyn i’w gilydd yn byw gyda’i gilydd ond rydyn ni hefyd yn gwybod bod nifer o bobl ifanc yn cael eu magu gan eu neiniau a’u teidiau a byddem hefyd wrth ein boddau’n clywed ganddyn nhw.
Anfonwch eich straeon, atgofion, dyfyniadau at tim@sharedlivesplus.org.uk a’u postio ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol gan ddefnyddio’r hashnod #DanUnTo #UnderOneRoof
Gadewch i ni ddathlu’r cenedlaethau yn pontio a byw gyda’i gilydd, ym mha bynnag ffurf, a dangoswch fod ein bywydau’n gwella pan fyddan nhw’n cael eu rhannu.
Join the Homeshare UK Wales ‘Under One Roof’ campaign
Whilst travelling around Wales and talking about Homeshare, it’s amazing how many people tell you ‘I did something like that when I was younger,’ or ‘Someone I know took a young person in.’ It seems that intergenerational living has always been with us and always will be, so we at Homeshare UK thought we should be celebrating that!
Whilst we often hear stories pitting one generation against another causing division and stirring up discrimination, we thought it would be great to gather the stories of how the generations have come together and lived together. Did you share a house with an older person when you were in university or when you first started work? Have you opened up your home and shared it with a younger person who was in need of accommodation? We’d love to hear your memories. What was good about it, what worked, have you kept in touch?
Often we hear stories of people who were unrelated living together but we also know that many young people are brought up by their grandparents and we’d also love to hear from them too.
Send your stories, memories, quotes to tim@sharedlivesplus.org.uk and also post on social media using the hashtag #UnderOneRoof
Let’s celebrate intergenerational living in all its forms and show that our lives get better when they’re shared.
Ni fydd newid cyfraith tai yng Nghymru yn effeithio ar Cysylltu Bywydau na Rhannu Cartref
Mae cyfraith tai yng Nghymru yn newid ar 1 Rhagfyr, 2022, ond ni fydd y newidiadau’n effeithio ar Cysylltu Bywydau na Rhannu Cartref. Mae’r rheolau newydd wedi’u cynnwys yn Neddf Rhentu Cartrefi (Cymru) 2016 ac maen nhw’n cynnwys safon newydd y mae’n rhaid i landlordiaid ei chyrraedd i osod eiddo, a elwir yn “Annedd Ffit i Bobl Fyw Ynddi”.
Mae estyniad hefyd i isafswm y cyfnod rhybudd “dim bai” – hynny yw, faint o rybudd y mae’n rhaid i landlord ei roi os ydyn nhw am ddod â’r denantiaeth i ben heb i’r tenant dorri’r telerau – o fis i chwech. Er bod Cysylltu Bywydau a Mwy yn cefnogi unrhyw gyfraith flaengar sy’n rhoi mwy o ddiogelwch i denantiaid, roedd ofn y gallai’r newid olaf beryglu’r rhyddid a’r hyblygrwydd i ddod â pharu Cysylltu Bywydau neu Rannu Cartref i ben os nad oedd yn gweithio allan – sy’n ofynnol gan y ddwy ochr o dan ein modelau sy’n canolbwyntio ar yr unigolyn: y gofalwyr Cysylltu Bywydau a Deiliaid Tai ar yr un llaw, a’r bobl sy’n cael eu cefnogi a Rhanwyr Cartrefi ar y llaw arall.
Ar ôl ymchwil helaeth i’r gyfraith newydd, cyngor gan Weinidog Cymru Julie James a sgyrsiau gyda Rhentu Doeth Cymru, gallwn gadarnhau nad oes yr un o’r newidiadau yn effeithio ar drefniadau tenantiaeth lle mae’r Landlord yn byw gyda’i denant. Mae Rhan 2 o Atodlen 2 o Ddeddf 2016 yn diffinio rhai mathau o denantiaeth a thrwydded na fyddant yn gontractau meddiannaeth. Mae’r ‘eithriad llety a rennir’ a grybwyllir ym mharagraff 3(2) ac a ddiffinnir ym mharagraff 6 o Atodlen 2 yn disgrifio’n gywir drefniadau Cysylltu Bywydau a Rhannu Cartref.
Ni fydd angen i ofalwyr a deiliaid tai a rennir yng Nghymru newid eu contractau, cydymffurfio â’r safonau “Annedd Fit i Bobl Fyw Ynddi” newydd, na bod yn ddarostyngedig i isafswm y cyfnod dim bai newydd. Rydym yn ymchwilio i’r llu arfaethedig o ddiwygiadau ar gyfer tenantiaethau preifat yn Lloegr, y bwriedir ei gyflwyno fel bil yn Senedd y DU rhywbryd y flwyddyn nesaf, yn ogystal â’r rheolau yn yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon am eu heffaith bosibl ar Cysylltu Bywydau a Rhannu Cartref.
Housing law change in Wales doesn’t impact Homeshare or Shared Lives
Housing law in Wales is changing on December 1, 2022, but the changes will not affect Homeshare or Shared Lives. The new rules are contained within the Renting Home (Wales) Act 2016 and include a new standard that landlords must meet to let properties, known as “Fitness for human habitation.”
There is also an extension of the minimum “no fault” notice period – that is, the amount of notice a landlord must give if they want to end the tenancy without the tenant having broken the terms – from one month to six. Whilst Shared Lives Plus supports any progressive law which gives tenants greater security, it was feared that the latter change could jeopardise the freedom and flexibility to end a Homeshare or Shared Lives match if it isn’t working out – required by both parties under our person-centred models: Shared Lives carers and householders on the one hand, and people supported and homesharers on the other.
After extensive research of the new law, advice from Welsh Minister Julie James and conversations with Rent Smart Wales, we can confirm that none of the changes affect tenancy arrangements in which the Landlord lives with their tenant. Part 2 of Schedule 2 of the 2016 Act defines certain types of tenancy and licence that will not be occupation contracts. The ‘shared accommodation exception’ mentioned in paragraph 3(2) and defined at paragraph 6 of Schedule 2 accurately describes both Homeshare and Shared Lives arrangements.
Homeshare householders and Shared Lives carers in Wales will not need to alter their contracts, comply with the new “Fitness for human habitation” standards, or be subject to the new minimum no-fault notice term. We are investigating the proposed raft of reforms for private tenancies in England, slated to enter the UK parliament as a bill at some point next year, as well as the rules in Scotland and Northern Ireland for their potential impact on Homeshare and Shared Lives.
Mae Rhannu Cartref yn dod i’r Gogledd
Y gaeaf hwn, bydd y trydydd gwasanaeth Rhannu Cartref yng Nghymru yn dechrau, gan ddod â phobl at ei gilydd er budd pawb. Bydd pobl hŷn sy’n byw ar eu pen eu hunain yn cael eu paru â’r rhai sy’n chwilio am lety fforddiadwy yng Ngwynedd.
Ar ôl sefydlu’r ddwy raglen beilot gyntaf yn Abertawe a Sir Benfro, roedd Homeshare UK yn awyddus i’r drydedd raglen beilot a’r un olaf gael ei chynnal yn y Gogledd.
Yng Nghymru, dywedodd 54% o bobl 60-74 oed a 49% o bobl 75+ oed, eu bod yn teimlo’n unig o bryd i’w gilydd (ONS). Mae Gwynedd yn ardal wledig lle mae 28% o’r boblogaeth dros 65 oed ac mae pwysau cynyddol ar wasanaethau gofal. Mae llawer yn chwilio am rywfaint o gymorth ychwanegol a dyna beth fydd Rhannu Cartref yn ei gynnig.
Bydd y rhaglen Rhannu Cartref yng Ngwynedd yng ngofal Cyngor Gwynedd; yr awdurdod lleol. Bydd Rhannu Cartref Gwynedd Homeshare yn cael ei lansio’n anffurfiol i ddechrau yng Nghynhadledd Pobl Hŷn Gwynedd ddydd Iau 17 Tachwedd. Yna, bydd yn cael ei lansio ar-lein ddydd Mercher 11 Ionawr, a gallwch gofrestru i fynychu’r digwyddiad drwy ddilyn y ddolen hon https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lansiad-rhannu-cartref-gwynedd-homeshare-gwynedd-launch-tickets-464302881417
Mae’r recriwtio wedi bod ar waith yn Abertawe hefyd ac mae cydlynydd wedi’i phenodi. Ei henw yw Ruth Robinson ac rydym yn edrych ymlaen at ei chroesawu i rwydwaith Homeshare UK a gweithio’n agos gyda hi i sicrhau bod Rhannu Cartref Abertawe yn llwyddiant.
Rydym ni’n falch iawn o lansio’r rhaglen beilot olaf a chael y tair rhaglen Rhannu Cartref ar waith.