+ Q: What's the difference between a foster/ resource family and a host home?

Foster/Resource Families take care of children, ages 0-21, who have been removed from their homes and are placed in the foster care system. For more information about becoming a foster family, click here.

Host Homes are individuals or families who have expressed an interest in hosting housing ill-equipped young adults. Hosts are required to submit an application and complete background checks. Pending approval, a mandatory interview will be conducted with the Host Homes Coordinator to ensure appropriate matching with a young adult guest. Host Homes are not regulated by any licensing agency; however, they are managed and monitored by a Host Homes Coordinator for safety and compliance per the Host-Guest Contract and Housing First standards. Host Homes are offered a monthly stipend to help offset the cost of housing a young adult for up to 5-Months.

+ Q: If I already have a displaced youth living in my home, can I apply to be a Host Home?

Yes! Currently, there are many displaced youth being informally housed in Shasta County. We can help formalize the process and ensure the young adult is receiving additional services and support necessary for a successful transition to more permanent housing—or encourage them to meet their self-identified goals.

+ Q: How long is housing for?

Host Homes is a temporary housing option designed to give an ill-equipped young adult a safe, consistent home-base to springboard them into a successful future. Each Host Home “stay” will be different, but the average accommodation is about five months. It can be longer or shorter depending on what the Host and young adult need/want.

+ Q: What is my role in the life of young adult I'm housing? Am I parenting?

Your relationship can be whatever you guys want it to be—it will be different for each young adult guest you host.

+ Q: How do we define homeless?

Homeless youth are typically defined as unaccompanied youth ages 12-24 who are without family support and who are living in shelters, on the streets, in cars or vacant buildings, or who are “coach surfing” or living in other unstable circumstances.

Other terms for homeless might include:
• housing unstable
• displaced
• couchsurfers

The word “homeless” is often stigmatized as being scary, dirty, dangerous or unworthy. The goal of the Ready for Life Host Homes wants to break the stigma behind homelessness by encouraging meaningful connections within a safe environment—while remembering these individuals are kind, harmless, and worthy community members.

Ready for Life Host Homes can only succeed with adequate involvement and support from the community. The program and its people have a deep commitment to our community, our youth, and social change; not just through the sharing of resources, but through the transformative and intimate process of sharing our homes and our lives.

+ Q: How do I know if I qualify?

Are you between the ages of 18-24? Do you currently have unstable housing? Click here.

+ Q: What does temporary housing mean?

A Host Home is a temporary housing solution for approximately 1-5 months. During your stay, we will be working with you to find a more permanent housing solution.

+ Q: Do I have to follow a bunch of rules? Is there a curfew?

All of these questions will be addressed in your Host-Guest Contract before your stay begins. The rules may differ depending on the Host Home, but keep in mind, they are meant to be made and agreed upon, together.

+ Q: Is RFL Host Homes LGBTQ+ friendly?

Yes! RFL Host Homes does not discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender expression. Everyone is welcome.

+ Q: I’m interested, what do I do?

For additional information or inquiries-- call or text (530) 917-8610 OR fill out the CONTACT US form to begin the preliminary application and matching process.