If you work in the IDD field, you already know the hardest part is rarely the work itself. It is the caseloads, the turnover, and the models that leave little room to actually know the person you are supporting. Homies is built differently. We are a life-sharing movement that matches high-level mentors with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to build homes grounded in trust, growth, and shared experiences.
This is not a traditional clinical role and it is not a shift you clock in and out of. It is a real home and a real friendship, with your professional skills working quietly underneath.
What This Role Actually Is
You join as an independent contractor, which means you run your own schedule with our team supporting you the whole way. You live with one person and help them build the life they want. You are a housemate first and a friend second, and your training is the foundation that makes both possible. You are not staff in someone's home. You are someone's person.
Featured Match Opportunity:
We are currently seeking a match for a 27-year-old Male who:
Interests: A quiet, kind person who enjoys meeting new people and making them laugh with jokes and music. He learned harmonica from his grandfather at age 3 and now performs under a stage name, with hopes of finding more performance or recording work down the road. At home, he likes to relax with jigsaw puzzles, drawing, working on his computer, and watching TV with family (comedies, game shows, and some crime shows). He works out at a local gym and works part-time on a store load crew. Though born and raised in Southern California, he spent several years living in another state, where he did a lot of hiking, biking, and backpacking in the mountains with family and friends. He hopes to find a supportive roommate to share more outdoor adventures with and feel comfortable being himself.
The Supports:
- Overall live-in presence to support success in independent living; this is a presence-based match, not a scheduled-visit role
- Day-to-day help with meals, budgeting, and household routine
- Encouragement around self-advocacy, as he can be slow to speak up for his own needs
- Support getting out of the house, building hobbies, and making friends
- Modeling budgeting and staying alert to exploitation risk without being paranoid
- Transportation awareness; he drives locally but not on freeways, at night, or long distances
- Encouragement around his part-time work and his goal of finding more harmonica performance or recording opportunities
- Collaboration with his closely involved family and the Homies clinical and operations team
- Consistent behavioral data collection and documentation
The Ideal Mentor: An ambivert who is comfortable with quiet but knows how to socially initiate. Active and outdoorsy, someone who will actually get him out of the house for hiking, biking, or disc golf. Into music, open to astronomy, road trips, game shows, and dogs. Patient with long pauses and short answers, never rushing him. Genuinely comfortable with autism and intellectual disability, not looking to "manage" him. Encouraging rather than directive: nudges, not commands. Financially steady and able to help model budgeting. Think "great RA energy": the kind of person who becomes a real friend, not just a support.
What the Journey Looks Like
We move carefully, because the relationship is the whole point. It starts with a conversation, getting to know you, your lifestyle, and what you are looking for in a home. Every candidate completes a DOJ and FBI background clearance early on, before any introductions. A few of these early steps, like your background clearance, have small upfront costs. We will walk you through the timing so nothing catches you off guard, and we will sort the logistics together.
From there, when we see a strong human fit, we introduce you to the individual and let the relationship grow at its own pace. There is no rush. The relationship moves at its own pace, though a few clearance and paperwork steps are time-sensitive. Getting those back promptly keeps everything on track and gets you home sooner. If a particular match is not right, you stay in our Priority Mentor Pool for future ones.
When you are both ready to move forward, you choose a living arrangement and apply for a home together as co-tenants. Because you are signing a lease alongside the individual, this includes a standard credit check, the same one any landlord runs. Our housing team is with you through it. Then you move in, settle into daily life, and begin with the full backing of the Homies team.
Living Arrangements
The right home is the foundation of a good match. This role offers three flexible paths:
- Host: Welcome the individual into your current home (must have 2+ bedrooms).
- Any other adults living in the home must complete the same background clearance.
- Move-In: Relocate into the individual's existing home or apartment.
- Co-Create: Work with us to find a brand-new living space together that suits both of you.
If you don't already have a space to welcome someone into, you and your Homie find a new place together and sign the lease as co-tenants. From there, it works like any roommate situation. You each have your own rental budget, your own share of living expenses, and your own moving and deposit costs. What makes it different isn't the logistics, it's the purpose and the backing. You are there to help your roommate live more independently, and neither of you is doing it alone. Our housing team guides you both through finding the right home and the application, but your share of it is yours, just like any roommate.
Why Your Professional Background Matters
We value the specialized training that ABA and IDD professionals bring. We are looking for mentors who lead with empathy over authority and understand that the goal is to empower, not to manage. You are a strong fit if you:
- Practice collaborative humility. You value the individual's autonomy and treat your clinical skills as tools that serve their chosen life.
- Are tech-savvy. You are comfortable using digital platforms for documentation, goal tracking, and timekeeping.
- Are mission-driven. You believe everyone deserves a home life that is vibrant, inclusive, and respectful.
Support and Structure
You are never on your own. You live independently with your housemate, backed by the Homies clinical team. Your role includes a comprehensive, personalized support plan, our dedicated app for documentation and timekeeping, and monthly check-ins with ongoing training to keep growing.
Requirements
- 1+ years supporting individuals with developmental disabilities or behavioral needs (RBT, BCBA, or ABA experience is highly valued)
- Strong communication and the ability to follow clinical support plans
- Comfort with mobile apps and technology
- Valid CA driver's license and reliable transportation
- Ability to pass a DOJ and FBI background clearance, and a credit check as part of the housing application
Compensation
- Up to $53,000/year Tax-Free: (Stipend-based, equivalent to ~$71,000+ pre-tax).
- Professional Growth: Access to mentorship, specialized training, and a community of like-minded professionals.
Ready to build a life, not just a career?
Apply today to start the matching process. Let’s find the right person for you to grow with.
Watch a testimonial video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXyjgX63r5c&t=1s
Job Types: Full-time, Part-time, Contract
Pay: Up to $71,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
Work Location: In person
