Shared Housing: Frequently Asked Questions

Shared housing places several residents in a single home, each with their own space alongside shared common areas. For people in recovery, veterans, and others who need stable housing, it provides safety, structure, and community at a lower cost than living alone — while giving the housing provider a sustainable way to operate.

Their model uses a single-family home to provide accountable, accredited housing for several residents, supported by contracts with government programs, courts, and hospitals. It's built from more than a decade of operating their own homes, and it covers how to choose the right property, rehab it wisely, structure the home, and run it well.

Income comes from housing multiple residents in one property and charging by the bed, with support funded through agencies rather than from private paying clients. A well-run home can produce several streams of contract-backed income, though actual results depend on the property, your local market, and how the home is operated.

Funding often comes from state and federal programs, drug courts, hospitals, and other agencies that provide support for residents while the provider supplies quality housing. This contract-backed structure is what makes the income more stable than relying on private paying clients.

No. Many of our students start without a real estate background. The Home Study Program walks through the real estate side step by step — choosing a property, making smart rehab decisions, and setting the home up to work both financially and operationally.

No. The model is designed to be replicated anywhere in the United States, and Frank and Sherri have trained students who've opened roughly 300 homes nationwide. Their own eight homes are in the Seattle area, while they teach and mentor investors across the country.

The Home Study Program is Frank and Sherri's full step-by-step system for launching a shared housing business — a 58-module curriculum covering property selection, financing, rehab, marketing, fair housing, home management, and recovery-housing fundamentals, built from real homes and real contracts.

MAT recovery housing welcomes residents who are receiving medication-assisted treatment for substance use disorder, rather than excluding them. Frank and Sherri operate Washington's first state-accredited recovery homes for people on MOUD, built on the belief that treatment should never disqualify someone from having a home.

Shared recovery housing is legal and, in many circumstances, protected under fair housing law — but rules vary by city and state, including zoning, occupancy limits, and licensing. The Home Study Program covers fair housing fundamentals, and you should always confirm the specific regulations and seek professional guidance for your local area.

Frank and Sherri Candelario are the founders of Kate's House Foundation, a national model for accredited recovery housing. They've housed more than 1,000 people since 2015, own and operate eight homes in the Seattle area, and teach investors nationwide. You can learn more on our About page.

Start by watching the free training to see how the model works, then explore the Home Study Program for the full step-by-step system. You can also join the monthly membership for ongoing guidance as you build.