“MomMatching”
Home-Share Service for Single Moms
Running Low? How Would You Like FREE* Gasoline for One Year?
Carmel Sullivan,
Founder
Co-abode Single Mothers House Sharing
Website:
www.co-abode.org
Email:
info@co-abode.com
About the Co-Adobe:
A
pioneering non-profit Website,
www.Co-abode.org,
offers a unique “matchmaking” service to
provide single moms the opportunity to house
share, while pooling resources and finances with
another single mom of their choosing.
Founded by a single mom who knows the issues
single mothers face firsthand. She describes the
website as a source of real help for single moms
where they need it the most—social support and
better living arrangements for their children.
“If the “It takes a village…” notion has any
credence—as I firmly believe it does—then
connecting single moms is the way to make it
work,” says Sullivan.
What
Co-Adobe do:
Co-abode
also offers single moms a way to stay in the
family home by sharing its expense with another
single-mom family. Moms without a home can find
an appropriate housemate through the service,
enabling them to afford a larger and more
comfortable home together.
Since the launch of Co-abode the site has
expanded nationally to help single moms find
compatible housemates in their local area.
Communities of like-minded single moms are
building neighborly relationships through the
Co-abode infrastructure in cities across the
country.
More
about
Co-Adobe:
“Single moms stagger under the burden of providing
for young children without proper financial
support from family or social services,” says
Sullivan. “The very people who could most benefit
from a stable emotional support system often go
home with their children to an empty house or
apartment.”
Through Co-abode single moms can find
compatible partners in any state to share rent,
utilities and food, chores and babysitting. This
allows for a higher standard of living than is
possible when going it alone.
Members choose housing partners by reading other
women's profiles and contacting prospective
housemates that appeal to them through the site’s
secure and anonymous e-mail system. Criteria used
to determine compatibility include age, location,
number of children, and ability to meet financial
requirements like deposits, monthly rent and
utility bills. In addition to household
matchmaking, the site offers a wealth of resources
for cash-strapped parents—moving tips, health and
parenting advice, as well a chat room and “Circle
of Friends” page where moms can share the trials
and tribulations of day-to-day life.
"I’m a far better mother because I'm less
stressed."
In a town outside of Minneapolis,
Jennifer and Simone came to each other's economic
rescue. The single mothers, were desperate.
Jennifer had two children, ages 4 and 3 months; a
house; and a mortgage way beyond her means.
“For me, there’s been
a tremendous sense of relief in house sharing with
another mom and her child,” says San Diego-based
Barbara, single parent of boys, Tyler, 11, and
Kevan, 15. “At the end of the day we get in there
together and tackle what has to be done; ‘you do
the dinner—I’ll help the kids get their homework
done.’ We have a mutual respect and admiration
for each other. My kids have a playmate and are
easier to manage. I now have more money to spend
on them too.”
You can register, fill
out a profile and do a search for free. To make
contact you’ll need to become an Active Paid
Member. Co-Abode is offering
membership for a fee of $29.95.
