What's Involved?

Our Own Lives is seeking self-starters to open their homes to one or more persons with developmental disabilities in Southwest Colorado. Our host home providers support people enrolled in services with the support to live the home life that they want, consistent with their preferences. 

Trust and connection between the person and the host home provider are essential. Our Own Lives carefully connects people in services looking for a host home with potential providers and make sure all parties feel there is a good match and are excited about living together. 

Host Home Providers open their home and assist people with daily support needs. These needs can vary depending on the person served, but often involve a mix of the following depending on the person’s wishes and needs:

• Having Fun!

• Helping prepare meals

• Learning around the house skills like cooking and keeping up with home cleaning

• Support making informed decisions and planning

• Bathing Support and help in the bathroom 

• Social access

• Support managing finances and budgeting 

• Emotional support and connection

This is a team effort! ​Providing services as a Host Home Provider is a rewarding, yet difficult job, so we do everything we can to support you and your family! We respect and honor you, your values, your family, and your personal life and will help you maintain a work-life balance by providing professional support and respite options.  We provide a high level of support to you and the person you support which may include behavior support, medical training, computer training, monitoring and coordination. You will use Therap, an online health record tool, allowing you to report and document in the comfort of your own home.

Creating Great Matches

​Our Own Lives takes pride in setting up conditions for a great experience for both families and the people we serve in our residential program.  When a person and/or their family choose a home, we want them to become a member of the family. At the time a potential Host Home Provider applies to become an Our Own Lives contractor, we ask them to complete a profile of an individual who meets their personality, preferences, and lifestyle.  At the same time, when an person we serve is looking for a new Host Home, we ask them to complete a profile of their ideal home and lifestyle, including their preferences, hobbies, and established routines.  

Other factors that might be considered are ethnicity, religion, marital status, children in the home, employment status, financial stability, compatible personalities and openness to ongoing contact with the family. Next, the case manager will discuss the possibilities of a preliminary match with the individual seeking a new provider.  If the individual wants to proceed, a meeting is set up so that the individual can interview the potential contractor.  After that interview, if either party feels the match isn’t right, we don’t go any further.  If the interview is favorable, we’ll set up opportunities for the individual and the potential Host Home Provider to spend some time together. If for some reason there isn’t a good match, the potential Host Home Provider will be considered for other possible placements.

​Meet a Few of Our Clients

Meet “C”: C is a sweet, loving, affectionate man that enjoys interacting with people. His laugh will make your day. He is adventurous, loves helping others and enjoys working on art projects.

Meet “M”: M is a kind and compassionate man that is a great listener and loves to hear what people have to say. He is fun and not afraid to ask others for what he needs.

Meet “N”: N is a witty and hardworking man who loves hanging out with the guys. His goal is to train to become a flight attendant or a trucker, and he is seeking support to learn skills to live independently in the community.