Charlotte is a little daring. For one, she is not afraid of snakes, even though her dad is, a little. She was telling us about the time she met a large pet snake and what it was like to hold it and have it draped around her shoulders. Her face lit up as she shared this memory. Her affection for animals shines through as she talks about her dog Lucy, her cat Katie, her birds, fish, the cows on the dairy farm in Chilliwack where she grew up. However, she draws the line at goats, “They’re too noisy.”, she says.
This kind and spirited young woman has only recently moved from her family home into a home share which she shares with a roommate, Melissa. As she talks about living on her own, you can tell she misses her family and animal friends on the farm. Not ever having lived away from her family before, it’s understandable that, despite her pluckiness, she’s somewhat wistful. But she’s also realistic, acknowledging, “It’s a big change. I know it will take time.” She hasn’t yet finished decorating her room, but she intends to soon. When asked if she likes living on her own, she says hesitantly, “It’s feeling more and more like my home.” Maybe once she’s added personal touches to her room and made the space her own, she will feel more like she’s home.
During this critical transition period, she’s being well supported by her family, her home share provider Georgia, and the encouraging staff at Crossroads Community Inclusion, all who are standing alongside her as she takes steps toward greater independence.
Charlotte settled in with her iced coffee to talk about life on the farm with her family and favourite animals, and in her new home share.
It was Charlotte’s decision to move out. Her mother arranged with Bethesda for her to experience an overnight stay with a home share family. When she returned home the following day, Charlotte declared her intention to move out, immediately diving into planning a moving-out party. With enthusiasm, she crafted guest lists, chose party decorations, and sent out invitations to her friends.
The day of the party is an unforgettable highlight for Charlotte. She joyfully hosted her community inclusion friends and her friends from work, treating them to quad rides through the fields before cutting into the moving-out celebration cake. She said, “It was good having my friends from work and from Bethesda all over at my house.”
Now that she’s in her new home, she has a wide-open future of possibilities ahead of her. She’s taking walks in the new neighbourhood with Melissa and watches movies, sometimes reads her favourite book, “Chicken Soup for the Soul”. Living with her new home share family is a big transition and she is adjusting well.
Charlotte anchors herself through her job at Local Harvest Market in Chilliwack and her visits to her parents on Sundays. They visit and attend church together and she re-unites with her beloved animal friends. Eager to create friendships, she anticipates deepening her relationships with the people at her community inclusion service she attends. She heard about a paint night they held last year at Vedder Terrace and hopes they might hold another one. “I’d like to try painting.”, she says.
Charlotte’s bravery and open heartedness are inspiring as she valiantly sets out on this new chapter in her life, embracing with hope the possibilities that lie ahead.
Home sharing is opening your home and life to an adult with diverse abilities. As a home share provider, you offer them a home and strive to foster their independence and quality of life. Over time, the relationship grows, and so do the social, emotional and spiritual benefits of inviting another person into your life. If you are curious about welcoming a person with a diverse ability into your home, visit our home share webpage or contact HomeShare@BethesdaBC.com. They’re here to help answer your questions and help you decide if becoming a home share provider is right for you.
