Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to the questions we hear most often about our shared living programs, eligibility, referrals, applications, and move-in process.
Quick Help Hub
Select a category below to jump directly to detailed guides, policies, and step-by-step assistance designed for residents, families, and caseworkers.
Housing Programs
Explore available floor plans, community rules, safety amenities, and locations optimized for independent progress.
Applications & Move-In
Review step-by-step application requirements, screening guidelines, and your essential first-day checklist.
Referrals & Agencies
Portal for case managers, clinical social workers, and agencies to quickly submit client placement criteria.
Payments & Policies
Pay program fees online securely, understand financial aid assistance, and read resident guidelines.
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About Prospering Homes
What is the core mission of Prospering Homes?
Where are your shared living homes located?
Prospering Homes operates multiple professionally managed shared living homes throughout Indianapolis, Indiana, serving adults, families, veterans, seniors, and individuals rebuilding their lives through our various housing programs.
For the safety, privacy, and security of our residents, property addresses are not publicly listed on our website or shared before approval.
Once an applicant has been approved for placement and a move-in has been scheduled, they will receive the address of the assigned home along with any move-in instructions and program-specific information.
This policy helps us:
- 🏡 Protect the privacy of our residents.
- 🔒 Maintain a safe and secure living environment.
- 🤝 Ensure only approved applicants and authorized visitors have access to our properties.
If you are a referral partner, case manager, or sponsoring agency and need additional information regarding placement, our team is happy to work directly with you while maintaining resident confidentiality.
Service Area: Prospering Homes currently operates in Indianapolis and accepts referrals from organizations throughout Indiana, subject to program eligibility and housing availability.
How does the unique shared living model work?
Prospering Homes offers structured shared living, an affordable housing model designed to help individuals and families achieve stability while living in a safe, supportive, and professionally managed environment.
Instead of renting an entire apartment or house, residents have a private or shared bedroom and share common areas such as the kitchen, living room, bathrooms, and laundry facilities with other residents. This approach helps keep housing more affordable while fostering a respectful community where residents can work toward their personal and financial goals.
Our shared living model includes:
- 🏠 Clean, furnished, move-in-ready homes
- 🛏 Private or shared bedrooms, depending on availability and program
- 🤝 Shared common areas that are maintained by residents with support from scheduled monthly professional deep cleaning
- 📋 House rules and program expectations that promote accountability, safety, and respect
- 🌟 A supportive environment focused on helping residents build stability and prepare for long-term housing success
Each resident is expected to:
- Respect fellow residents and their privacy.
- Keep their bedroom and shared spaces clean.
- Follow house rules and program expectations.
- Contribute to maintaining a positive, safe, and welcoming living environment.
Our goal is to provide more than just a place to stay—we provide a community where residents can focus on employment, saving money, rebuilding their lives, and working toward independent housing when they are ready.
Eligibility Requirements
What are the basic eligibility requirements?
Eligibility requirements vary by program, but all applicants must meet basic requirements to help ensure a safe, respectful, and successful shared living environment.
In general, applicants should:
- Be at least 18 years of age (or applying as the head of household for a family program).
- Be willing to live in a shared living environment and respect the rights, privacy, and comfort of other residents.
- Be able to comply with the Participant Agreement, House Rules, and program expectations.
- Complete the required application and provide requested documentation.
- Participate in any required interviews, screenings, or assessments.
- Meet the eligibility requirements for the specific housing program they are applying to.
Depending on the program, additional requirements may include employment or income verification, participation in case management, agency referral, or other program-specific criteria.
Please note that meeting the basic eligibility requirements does not guarantee placement. All applications are reviewed individually based on program eligibility, current availability, and our ability to provide an appropriate housing placement.
If you’re unsure which program is right for you, our team is happy to help determine the best fit based on your individual circumstances.
What are the income and financial criteria?
Are there background check or rental history requirements?
Shared Living
How are bedrooms assigned and furnished?
Bedrooms are assigned based on your approved program, household size (if applicable), room availability, and our goal of creating a safe and compatible shared living environment. While we do our best to consider individual needs, specific room requests cannot be guaranteed.
All bedrooms are move-in ready and include:
- 🛏 Bed and mattress
- 🛌 Pillow and bedding
- 👕 A small dresser for each resident’s personal belongings
Private Rooms: Include a television for the resident’s use.
Shared Bedrooms: Do not include individual televisions. Residents in all programs have access to televisions located in the home’s shared living areas.
Every Prospering Homes residence is fully furnished and professionally managed, with shared access to the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry facilities, Wi-Fi, and common living spaces.
Please Note: Furnishings and amenities may vary slightly by property, but every home is equipped to provide a clean, comfortable, and supportive shared living environment.
How do you select and match roommates?
What is the policy regarding visitors and overnight guests?
Visitor and overnight guest policies vary depending on the housing program. Because Prospering Homes provides shared living housing, the comfort, safety, and privacy of all residents are our highest priorities.
Visitors
Visitors may be permitted only after a Guest Request Form has been submitted and approved in advance by management. Approval is based on factors such as the resident’s program, house rules, the shared living environment, and the well-being of other residents.
Overnight Guests
Overnight guests are not automatically permitted and are subject to each program’s specific policies. If overnight guests are allowed within a particular program, they must receive prior written approval from management. Unauthorized overnight guests are considered a violation of the house rules.
Before approving any visitor or overnight guest, we consider:
- The safety and comfort of all residents
- Program-specific guidelines
- Shared bedroom and common area arrangements
- House capacity and quiet enjoyment of the home
- Compliance with all house rules
Our goal is to maintain a respectful, safe, and supportive environment for everyone living in our homes. Residents are expected to ensure that all approved visitors follow Prospering Homes’ policies while on the property.
How are chores and common area maintenance managed?
Residents share responsibility for maintaining a clean, respectful, and welcoming home. Because Prospering Homes is a shared living environment, everyone plays an important role in keeping common areas clean and comfortable for all.
Depending on the housing program, residents may be assigned specific household chores to promote accountability, responsibility, and independent living skills. Chore assignments may include tasks such as cleaning shared bathrooms, kitchens, living areas, laundry rooms, or other common spaces.
To support a healthy living environment:
- 🧹 Residents are responsible for the day-to-day cleaning and upkeep of the home.
- 📋 Chore assignments may be rotated or assigned based on the specific program.
- 🧼 A professional cleaning service performs scheduled monthly deep cleans of the home’s common areas.
- 🤝 All residents are expected to clean up after themselves and treat shared spaces with respect.
Our goal is to create a clean, safe, and cooperative living environment where everyone contributes to the success of the household. Failure to complete assigned responsibilities may result in corrective action in accordance with the participant agreement and house rules.
Applications & Move-In
How do I submit an application?
Submitting an application is easy. Complete the online application through our website by providing the requested information and required documentation. Once your application is received, our team will review it and contact you regarding the next steps, eligibility, and current availability. Submitting an application does not guarantee placement.
What are the requirements for approval?
Approval is based on several factors, including program eligibility, current availability, completion of the application, required documentation, and an applicant’s ability to comply with the Participant Agreement and House Rules. Additional reviews, such as background or rental history, may be conducted depending on the program. Meeting the basic requirements does not guarantee placement, as all applications are reviewed individually.
How long does the screening and background check take?
What is the process for room placement and key handover?
Referrals & Agencies
How can case managers submit a referral?
Case managers, social workers, healthcare providers, correctional agencies, shelters, and other referral partners can submit a referral by completing the online referral form on our website. Once the referral is received, our team will review the information, determine program eligibility and availability, and contact both the referring organization and the prospective participant regarding the next steps.
If immediate placement is needed or you have questions before submitting a referral, please contact Prospering Homes directly. Our team works to respond to referrals as quickly as possible based on current availability.
What eligibility criteria do organizations need to verify?
Before submitting a referral, organizations should verify that the individual meets the basic eligibility requirements for the requested program. This includes confirming the applicant’s identity, ensuring they are appropriate for a shared living environment, and verifying any program-specific requirements such as employment, income, agency sponsorship, or reentry status, when applicable.
Organizations should also disclose any known medical, behavioral, mental health, or safety concerns that may affect housing placement so we can determine whether Prospering Homes is an appropriate fit and ensure the safety and well-being of all residents. Final placement decisions are based on eligibility, current availability, and compatibility within the shared living environment.
Do you offer placement updates to referral partners?
Yes. Prospering Homes provides placement updates to referring organizations throughout the referral process, while respecting participant privacy and confidentiality. Referral partners will be notified when a referral has been received, whether additional information is needed, if the participant has been accepted or placed on a waitlist, and when a placement has been completed.
Ongoing updates after move-in may also be provided when appropriate and authorized, or as required by an existing partnership agreement or signed release of information. Our goal is to maintain clear communication with referral partners while protecting the privacy and rights of every participant.
Payments & Fees
What community fees are required, and what services do they cover?
Prospering Homes charges a one-time, non-refundable Community Fee at move-in. This fee helps cover administrative processing, move-in preparation, basic household setup, and essential move-in items provided to residents.
Unlike many traditional rentals, we do not require a security deposit. Our goal is to reduce the financial barriers to obtaining stable housing while ensuring every resident moves into a clean, furnished, and move-in-ready home.
The Community Fee is separate from monthly program fees and must be paid before move-in unless other arrangements have been approved.
What payment methods do you accept for recurring or one-time fees?
Prospering Homes accepts a variety of secure payment methods for both recurring monthly program fees and one-time payments. Residents may pay by credit or debit card, ACH bank transfer, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Link, PayPal, or Zelle. Payment instructions are provided before move-in and with recurring invoices to make the payment process simple, secure, and convenient.
Are customized payment arrangements or installment schedules available?
Yes. Prospering Homes understands that financial situations vary, and customized payment arrangements may be available on a case-by-case basis. Any payment arrangement must be approved by management before it begins and documented in a signed Payment Arrangement Agreement.
Residents who are approved for a payment plan are expected to make all scheduled payments on time. Failure to follow the agreed-upon payment schedule may result in late fees, loss of the payment arrangement, or additional actions as outlined in the Participant Agreement. Payment arrangements are offered as a courtesy and are not guaranteed.
House Rules & Safety
What are the core guest expectations during our stay?
What safety policies and equipment are in place?
The safety of our residents is a top priority. All Prospering Homes are equipped with smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors (where applicable), fire extinguishers, and security cameras in common areas. Cameras are never placed in bedrooms or bathrooms. Residents are expected to follow all safety policies, emergency procedures, and house rules to help maintain a safe and secure living environment for everyone.
What conduct and activities are strictly prohibited?
To maintain a safe and respectful shared living environment, residents and guests are prohibited from engaging in illegal activity, violence, threats, harassment, theft, property damage, possession or use of illegal drugs or unauthorized weapons, tampering with security equipment, unauthorized overnight guests, and any behavior that disrupts the safety, well-being, or peaceful enjoyment of the home. Violations may result in disciplinary action or removal from the program in accordance with the Participant Agreement and House Rules.