Introduction

Home sharing is more than just providing housing, it is about creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive home where people with developmental disabilities can live full and meaningful lives. As a home sharing provider, you are a key part of this vision. The relationships you build, the support you provide, and the values you uphold help shape someone’s daily life and future.

This manual has been created to support you in understanding your role and responsibilities. It offers guidance on best practices, standards, and expectations, all grounded in a commitment to dignity, respect, and human rights.

Two foundational principles guide all aspects of home sharing in British Columbia:

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) is an international agreement that recognizes the full human rights of people with disabilities. Canada ratified the Convention in 2010, and its principles guide many of the policies and practices of CLBC and its partners.

As a home sharing provider, your work should reflect the following key rights from the UNCRPD:

• The right to live in the community: People with disabilities have the right to choose where and with whom they live and to be supported in their own communities.
• The right to make choices: Individuals should have control over their lives, including decisions about daily routines, relationships, and future plans.
• The right to dignity and respect: All people deserve to be treated with kindness, fairness, and without discrimination.
• The right to accessibility and inclusion: People should be able to participate in all areas of life—employment, education, recreation, and citizenship—without barriers.

Your role as a provider includes helping the person you support to enjoy these rights in everyday life. This means:

• Involving them in decisions, big and small.
• Respecting their preferences, communication style, and cultural identity.
• Supporting access to community events, employment, and learning opportunities.
• Creating a home where they feel safe, welcome, and free to be themselves.

Indigenous Rights & Freedoms

British Columbia is home to diverse Indigenous Peoples who hold unique cultures, languages, and relationships with their territories. Indigenous individuals with developmental disabilities may access home sharing services, and it is vital that their rights, identities, and histories are respected in all aspects of support.

As a home sharing provider, your responsibilities include:

• Acknowledging that you live and work on Indigenous land. This may mean learning which Nation’s territory you live on and reflecting that in your home and conversations.
• Understanding the legacy of colonialism, residential schools, and systemic discrimination that still affects Indigenous individuals and communities today.
• Supporting cultural safety, which means creating an environment where Indigenous people feel respected, seen, and free from judgment or racism.
• Encouraging and supporting the individual’s connection to their cultural practices, community events, language, and Elders—if this is something they choose.

You are not expected to be an expert in Indigenous knowledge or experiences. But you are expected to:

• Listen respectfully.
• Ask when unsure.
• Make space for cultural identity to be part of the home environment.

CLBC and many coordinating agencies provide cultural safety resources and training. Use these tools to support reconciliation and honour Indigenous rights in your day-to-day practice.