After 15 years caring for older adults, she felt ready for something different. She wanted to support younger individuals with developmental disabilities in a way that also worked for her own family. That’s when she discovered the Host Home model through Community Living Alternatives.
Early on, Rini says she never felt alone.
CLA walked her through the Host Home Provider system step by step. They helped her understand expectations, paperwork, home setup, and daily support planning. When questions came up, someone was there to answer them. When she felt unsure, someone reassured her. When she experienced heartbreak, someone stood beside her.
“CLA didn’t just place someone in my home and leave. They supported me the whole way.”
That support, she says, made all the difference.
From Caregiver to “Mama”
Rini’s first individual, Warren, came into her life needing more than medical care. He needed belonging.
Warren had significant physical support needs and limited family connection. In Rini’s home, he found more than support — he found joy. They visited museums. They attended church. They experienced life together. He called her “Mama.”
When Warren passed away, the grief was overwhelming. Rini considered walking away from host home care altogether.
It was during that time that CLA’s support mattered most.
The CLA team encouraged her not to give up, reminding her that what she offers isn’t just care — it’s family. They gave her space to grieve and the confidence to continue when she was ready.
That encouragement helped her see her role not as a job, but as a calling.
She stayed.
And that decision would soon open the door for another relationship that would become just as meaningful.
Welcoming Tami Home
Four years ago, Tami came to live in Rini’s home through a new placement. Like many people adjusting to a new environment, the transition took time and trust needed to grow. She arrived feeling anxious and unsure, and trust did not come easily.
From the beginning, Rini focused on creating stability and reassurance — helping Tami understand that she was safe and that this was truly her home.
With consistent care — and ongoing support from CLA — Tami began to settle. When behaviors surfaced or questions arose, Rini knew she could call. When she needed help advocating for reassessment of Tami’s support level, she wasn’t fighting alone.
That persistence, partnership, and culture of care are why Rini continues working with Community Living Alternatives.
Over the years, she has built friendships with other Host Home Providers across the community. Many of them share their experiences navigating the responsibilities of being a Host Home Provider with different agencies. When those conversations happen, Rini often encourages others to learn more about the support and partnership she has experienced with CLA. She tells them, “You deserve an agency that stands beside you.”
For Rini, CLA’s difference is in how providers are treated — as true partners in care. She describes the team as responsive, consistent, and deeply committed to both the individuals served and the Host Home Providers who support them.
She has seen People Receiving Services stay connected with CLA for 11, 20, even 50 years — a reflection of stability, trust, and long-term relationships.
“What matters most,” Rini shares, “is knowing that if I need guidance, advocacy, or just someone to talk something through, CLA is there.”
That kind of partnership builds confidence.
That kind of consistency builds loyalty.
And that kind of culture builds trust that lasts for decades.
Small Moments. Big Growth.
On paper, Tami is described by her level of support needs — but Rini sees so much more.
Tami laughs at jokes.
She remembers routines.
She expresses preferences.
She protects the people she loves.
At the grocery store, Rini offers one simple choice at a time so Tami can practice decision-making without feeling overwhelmed. At church, she gently teaches social skills like saying “thank you.” At community events, Tami dresses up, gets her face painted, and glows with confidence.
Every small success builds independence.
Every choice builds self-worth.
Every shared experience expands her world.
A Real Family, With Real Dynamics
Tami shares her home with another individual who has higher support needs. Like any family, there are moments of territorial behavior and playful competition for attention.
But in Rini’s home, forgiveness, fairness, and fun are core values.
Tami has “seniority” — and she embraces it. She checks on Rini. She remembers where things are.
She offers affection freely.
The bond is mutual.
And through it all, Rini balances her own family life with extraordinary compassion — showing that love can stretch wider than we think.
Advocacy That Extends Beyond the Home
When Rini realized Tami’s support level did not reflect her true needs, she stepped forward to advocate for reassessment. She noticed no one else was pushing for it — so she did.
Because for Rini, advocacy is part of being family.
Her advocacy has extended beyond her home, helping other families navigate systems, improve safety, and push for better support structures in the community.
And in those efforts, CLA has stood beside her — collaborating, problem-solving, and reinforcing that Host Home Providers are valued partners who receive ongoing guidance, collaboration, and support.
The Emotional Reality — and the Reward
This work carries emotional weight. There is grief. There is exhaustion. There are moments that test your heart.
But there is also something extraordinary: Watching someone who once felt uncertain begin to feel secure.
Seeing anxiety replaced with attachment.
Hearing someone say, “This is my home,” and knowing they mean it.
For Rini, the reward is clear: “This isn’t just a job. It’s what I’m meant to do. And I couldn’t do it without the support of CLA.”
Why Host Homes Matter
Host Homes are built on inclusion, dignity, and belonging — not just in theory, but in everyday life.
Host Home Providers like Rini make those values real every single day.
And agencies like Community Living Alternatives make it possible by supporting the supporters — walking alongside providers through training, encouragement, advocacy, and growth.
Tami is not just supported.
She is known.
She is valued.
She is safe.
She is family.
And Rini is proof that compassion, commitment, and the right support system come together, a Host Home becomes more than a place to live — it becomes a place where people truly belong.
