[Article] Thank you for being a friend: B.C. senior home-sharing program to ease housing costs and isolation

A new North Vancouver initiative is helping older adults turn spare bedrooms into affordable housing, creating opportunities to reduce both housing costs and social isolation.

The Hollyburn Society is piloting the two-year Hidden Housing Solutions program, which matches homeowners aged 55 and older with a spare bedroom with other older adults looking to stay in their community.

About 37 per cent of homes in North Vancouver are single-person households, according to Statistics Canada.

Last year, 13,000 seniors applied for subsidized housing in B.C. and just 7 per cent received a home, according to the Office of the Seniors Advocate BC.

As housing pressures continue to grow, many older adults are facing difficult decisions about how to stay in the community they know and love. 

“Think of it as the Golden Girls meets eHarmony,” said Joy Hayden, director of community housing and real estate development of Hollyburn Society.

Hayden spent years speaking with older adults about the idea, gathering their feedback and suggestions to help shape a program designed for the community’s needs.

The average one-bedroom condo in the area rents for $2,350 per month, according to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, while the average purchase price was about $875,701 in April 2026, found BC Condos and Homes.

When older adults can age in their communities, research shows they are more likely to maintain social connections, participate in community life and support their mental health.

“When I talked to seniors before COVID, those that were interested in this, it was really on a financial element,” said Hayden. “But after COVID, it was the social element, [they said], ‘I don’t want to be alone.’

Nearly one in three Canadian seniors is at risk of social isolation, according to the federal government.

“Social isolation is a significant but often overlooked factor,” said Allison Silgardo, CEO of the Senior Services Society of BC.

“Seniors who are isolated are more likely to experience declining physical and mental health, and they may have fewer people to help them navigate housing challenges, access services, or respond to crises,” she said.

Isolation can accelerate the need for more intensive housing or care options, she added.

“Home sharing won’t solve the broader shortage of affordable housing for seniors, it is a promising model that can provide meaningful benefits for many older adults when implemented with the right supports,” Silgardo said.

Innovating for the future

Canada’s population is aging fast, with more than 8 million Canadians now aged 65 and older, according to Statistics Canada.

“Government certainly has a role that’s essential, but we’re gonna need to look at other innovative solutions as we have more and more people who are getting older, and many of them are gonna need those supports as they age,” Levitt said.

He pointed to naturally occurring retirement communities (NORC) and the village movement as promising models that help older adults remain connected and supported.

The village movement is a grassroots model where neighbours help older adults stay in their homes by connecting them with social and practical supports, such as grocery shopping and transportation to doctor appointments.

Meanwhile, NORC is a neighbourhood or condo complex not originally designed for older adults, but has naturally evolved to house a high concentration of seniors. 

Residents, often in partnership with community organizations, develop services and supports tailored to the community’s needs, helping people age in place.

“We have to look outside the box because unfortunately, government is just not keeping up with demand,” he said.

“So I commend the Hollyburn Society for seeking innovation,” he said.

The Hollyburn Society’s program goes through an extensive screening process to find a housemate match, including reference, credit and criminal record checks, while also assessing the suitability, she said.

Once a match is made, there is a trial period. 

One of the most important factors is the organization’s ongoing support and communication, said Hayden, to help address challenges and ensure that both seniors feel safe and comfortable.

“This is a vulnerability where two seniors come together, where we need to do our due diligence and make sure people are safe and respectful in those environments,” Hayden said.

Following the two-year trial, she hopes there’s room to expand the program.

Whether it’s bringing young families, single mothers,women fleeing violence or people with disabilities, she said there’s an opportunity for Hidden Housing Solutions to extend beyond seniors.