Golden Girls Canada
Golden Girls Canada provides resources to help single mature homeowners find other like-minded adults looking for a companionable place to live. Hersey.
It also offers presentations on home-sharing to groups offering support to seniors in their communities. The Golden Girls Lifestyle
When I was growing up we had two elderly ladies living next door, the two Misses Nolan. Three doors down in the other direction, there were three Misses Hersey and their brother, Mr. My ex-husband had four aunts sharing their family home. Some of these men and women
14/05/2024
We are excited and honoured to share the news that Dorothy Mazeau, Founder of Golden HomeSharing Connections, has been awarded a Fellowship by the Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness to undertake a study this summer, in partnership with HelpAge Canada.
The project Dorothy will be working on is “The Canada HomeShare Program: Housing That Connects Us.” She looks forward to exploring how best to strengthen and grow the community of home-sharers and the organizations that support them.
Home - Samuel Centre For Social Connectedness The Samuel Centre for Social Connectedness works with global partners to build social connectedness within and between communities to overcome social isolation. We strive to understand and build belonging through research, programming, partnerships and advocacy, bringing together diverse scholars, s...
27/03/2024
When learning that I live in a shared home, people often ask me, "What do you do with the kitchen?" I always answer, "We cook in it!" Every shared home has it's own solution to this issue. I love this article in the Washington Post: https://tinyurl.com/mssrtkhm
Perspective | 6 tips for cooking in a shared kitchen with roommates Whether you’re living with strangers or best friends, this advice will help you and your roommates make your shared kitchen a happy, harmonious space.
27/03/2024
When learning that I live in a shared home, people often ask me, ""What do you do with the kitchen?" I always answer, "We cook in it!" Every shared home has it's own solution, but I love this article from the Washington Post: https://tinyurl.com/mssrtkhm
Perspective | 6 tips for cooking in a shared kitchen with roommates Whether you’re living with strangers or best friends, this advice will help you and your roommates make your shared kitchen a happy, harmonious space.
05/08/2023
If you are a senior lady who would like to live in the Hamilton/Dundas area of Ontario, this looks like a wonderful opportunity!
Seeking a Senior Lady Housemate: Homeshare in Dundas, Ontario Are you a senior lady looking for a wonderful Homeshare arrangement in a desirable neighbourhood of Dundas, Ontario? Look no further! An amazing opportunity awaits you in a spacious and well-appointed home, located close to public transit. Our lovely senior househoulder is excited to share her beaut...
24/06/2023
Here is an excellent article by my friend and fellow home-sharing advocate Annamarie Pluhar, published in the current issue of Generations Journal. She says it all!
Making a Golden Girls Home a Reality ‘People can live together. This is simple to say but takes effort to implement.’
29/11/2022
Many of you will just have received my latest newsletter telling you about a home-sharing initiative that's worth supporting. Sharing Housing Inc. has launched a program called SHIFT, which aims to encourage homeowners to make the leap into sharing their home, offering them support along the way. Annamarie Pluhar, founder of Sharing Housing Inc. just published a blog explaining the program, which you can read below. Do you think this might work in Canada?
SHIFT — Why it Exists SHIFT - Why It Exists - Sharing Housing
23/02/2022
Happy to share this latest podcast about Home-Sharing, with host Lynn McLaughlin of Taking the Helm. What a wonderful interviewer she is! https://youtu.be/QzZWMEvWYdw
Dorothy Mazeau | Add Years to Your Life and Life to Your Years Do you think you have to sell your home and move to move to be able to afford your retirement years?After more than 20 years of living in shared homes, Dorot...
08/12/2021
Proud to be included in the latest issue of "Living Spaces and LifeStyles" Magazine!
https://greatlivingspaces.com/lifestyles/home-sharing-golden-girls-canada/
Home Sharing – Golden Girls Canada | LivingSpaces & Lifestyles Magazine Posted on Nov 30, 2021 in Arts/Community, Lifestyles With an ever-increasing aging population and the costs of home ownership skyrocketing, it is becoming increasingly difficult for single seniors to own and manage a home. Seniors living alone often face financial, physical, and emotional challenges...
12/10/2021
I've got some catching up to do! Lot's happening! Here's one of my favourite blogs, that I don't think I've shared before:
https://goldenhomesharingconnections.ca/is-home-sharing-the-air-bnb-of-affordable-housing/
Is home-sharing the "Air BNB" of affordable housing? - Golden Homesharing Connections Canada- Homesharing 55+ People pooh-poohed the idea that Air BNBs would ever take off as a popular way for homeowners to earn some extra income or that people would really rather stay in an unknown person’s house rather than a hotel when they travel – and look what happened! Air BNBs have gone on to disrupt the travel ...
06/07/2021
I'm very excited that Golden HomeSharing Connections is featured in an article on Home-Sharing in the July/August issue of Reader's Digest Canada, along with the Golden Girls of Port Perry and Terra Firma Cohousing in Ottawa!
26/06/2021
Here is a great new profile of a member of Golden Girls Canada, with a home to share in Dundas, Ontario. To contact the sharer and to begin your own journey to find a happy home-share, become a member today at www.goldengirlscanada.ca.
15/06/2021
Is home-sharing the Air BNB of affordable housing?!
People pooh-poohed the idea that Air BNBs would ever take off as a popular way for homeowners to earn some extra income or that people would really rather stay in an unknown person’s house rather than a hotel when they travel – and look what happened! Air BNBs have gone on to disrupt the travel industry! And on the way it has taken some affordable housing out of the marketplace.
Home-sharing, on the other hand, increases the supply of affordable housing! It helps people of modest income stay in the homes they love, while providing an affordable place to live for others who are also on a modest income. It’s a win-win solution!
Home-sharing got a lot of attention at a recent international Housing Solution Summit attended by hundreds of government reps and housing agencies. As I said in my presentation on “Scaling Up Home-Sharing” at the Summit, there are five million spare bedrooms in my home province of Ontario. That’s equal to 24 years-worth of affordable housing construction! It’s great that the government wants to support it, but people need to want to do it! And why not?!
Home-sharing is a viable, affordable – and enjoyable! – way to live. In Ontario, there are already about 575,000 households that are home to two or more unrelated adults. On the other hand, there are almost 4 million people living alone. For some, that may be fine. But most of us benefit from having other people around us, especially when we are heading into life’s third stage, when the kids are grown, we may be widowed or divorced, and life has started to throw us curve-balls in the health department. Honestly, I’ve found that a household of three or four people is ideal – safety in numbers!
So tell me:
Are you sharing a home now?
Have you ever shared a home?
Have you ever thought about it?
Would you like to know how to make a success of it?
Please share your thoughts with me. I’d love to know how to make this lifestyle the most natural solution to the housing crisis.
01/06/2021
If you've ever thought about living "Golden Girls" style, here's a great way to find out if home-sharing is right for you! Just click on this link and take a quick quiz: https://goldenhomesharingconnections.ca/quiz/
08/05/2021
Happy to share my latest podcast guest spot on "Women in the Middle" with Suzy Rosenstein. What a live wire she is! You can listen to it here: https://suzyrosenstein.com/ep-199home-sharing-as-an-empty-nester-with-dorothy-mazeau/
EP #199: Home Sharing as an Empty Nester with Dorothy Mazeau | Suzy Rosenstein What You’ll Learn in this Episode about Home Sharing as an Empty Nester: Why home sharing is a viable option for many in empty nesters in midlife. How to learn more about home sharing as an empty nester. What the advantages are to home sharing (it’s more than just income!). How to determine if h...
03/05/2021
Our next "Golden Solution" workshop is coming up next Saturday, May 8th! Join us to find out what home-sharing is all about and how sharing your home can bring fun, companionship -- and extra income! Register at https://goldenhomesharingconnections.ca/product/may-8-21-online-workshop/
19/04/2021
Golden Girls Canada's Dorothy Mazeau is honoured to be participating in the upcoming international Housing Solution Summit May 12-13, 2021. Her presentation will be on "Scaling Up Home-Sharing," a viable, affordable -- and enjoyable -- lifestyle. For more information about the summit and how to get a free pass go to: https://housing-solution-summit-2021.heysummit.com/?sc=SBHl5J7b&ac=DOluatb3.
07/04/2021
Happy to share my latest podcast guest spot on Terry Lohrbeer's "Kickass Boomers" You can listen at www.kickassboomers.com. We had a great conversation on home-sharing -- I love her energy! While you're there check out her other guests; they are an interesting bunch!
08/03/2021
Our next "Golden Solution" workshop is coming up on Saturday, March 13th! Join us to find out what home-sharing is all about and how sharing your home can bring fun, companionship -- and extra income! Register at https://goldenhomesharingconnections.ca/product/march-13-21-online-workshop/
02/03/2021
Twelve bedrooms, eight bathrooms . . . perfect for home-sharing in Hamilton! 😊
Hamilton's Ravenscliffe Castle is for sale If you’ve ever wanted to live in a castle, now is your chance. Hamilton’s prestigious Ravenscliffe Castle is available for sale as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own the most coveted address in the city. Located in the gorgeous Durand neighbourhood at the base of the escarpment, this histor...
01/03/2021
Golden Girls Canada's Dorothy Mazeau is the featured guest in this podcasts episode with host Debra Gray! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HqSKMR86Q0&feature=youtu.be
Golden Girls Living Whether you're thinking about ageing in place or you need to sell your home, downsize, and find somewhere to rent - OR you're helping a parent decide, you'll...
Our Story
The Golden Girls Lifestyle
When I was growing up we had two elderly ladies living next door, the two Misses Nolan. Three doors down in the other direction, there were three Misses Hersey and their brother, Mr. Hersey. My ex-husband had four aunts sharing their family home. Some of these men and women were widows, some had never married or were divorced, some had had careers and had retired back home, some had never left. Now, times have changed, and more likely than not, the family homestead is long gone, and you may not even like your siblings, but as someone who has lived communally for most of my adult life, I can tell you home-sharing can be a viable option. Remember the TV show Golden Girls!
Depending on your own level of tolerance for togetherness, there are a variety of different ways to approach this. If you have a close-knit group of friends, you could decide whose house has the most potential in terms of a convenient location, spaciousness, and ease of accessibility, both outside and inside the house. Then the others could sell (or rent out) their own homes and use some of the income to pay rent to the host home owner. I’m sometimes asked, when people find out I share a home with other non-related people, “How do you handle the kitchen?” My response is, “We cook in it!”
Of course, you could also opt to purchase a house together with friends and occupy it as tenants-in-common. If you choose to go this route you would be wise to have a lawyer draw up an agreement that would spell out the rights and responsibilities of each owner and to make sure the will of each owner spells out what should happen with their share of the ownership when the time comes, in consultation with the other owners.
Or you could all rent a home together, a more economical solution.
Golden Girls Canada is committed to helping people find other like-minded individuals to explore these ideas. Home-sharing is an economical and friendly solution to the question of how to live affordably, safely -- and enjoyably -- as we age.