Lanterman Regional Center Housing: Life-Sharing in Glendale, Burbank, and Pasadena

Glendale, Burbank, and Pasadena are places where people put down roots. The neighborhoods are walkable. The communities are tight. The local businesses know their regulars by name. For families of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), these cities check a lot of boxes -- except one. Finding stable, supportive housing that preserves independence and genuine community connection remains one of the hardest things to do in this part of Los Angeles.

The problem isn't a lack of desire. It's a lack of options that actually fit.

What Lanterman Regional Center Covers

The Frank D. Lanterman Regional Center (LRC) serves individuals with developmental disabilities across a wide swath of central and northeast Los Angeles. Its service area includes Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, La Canada Flintridge, Altadena, Eagle Rock, Highland Park, Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz, Atwater Village, Glassell Park, and Mount Washington.

LRC coordinates and funds services for thousands of individuals with IDD in this region. That includes everything from early intervention for children to employment support and housing services for adults. If your loved one is a Lanterman client, or if they live in one of these communities and have a developmental disability, LRC is the Regional Center responsible for connecting them to the services they need.

For a full overview of LRC and the services available, visit our Lanterman Regional Center page.

The Housing Landscape in LRC's Service Area

Northeast LA and the communities surrounding it present a particular challenge for disability housing. Rents are high. Vacancy rates are low. The apartments that do come available are competitive, and landlords often aren't familiar with -- or willing to accommodate -- the needs of adults with IDD.

For many families, the default options have been limited to three paths.

Group homes. A structured residential setting where multiple individuals live together with rotating staff. Group homes provide 24/7 coverage, but they come with trade-offs: limited personal choice, shared spaces with housemates you didn't choose, and the institutional feel that comes with shift-based staffing. For some individuals, a group home is the right fit. For many others, it's a compromise.

Staying at home with family. This works until it doesn't. Parents age. Siblings have their own lives. The question of "what happens next" gets heavier every year. Many families in the LRC area tell us they've been thinking about this for a decade but don't know where to start.

Supported Living Services (SLS). SLS is a Regional Center-funded service that allows adults with IDD to live in their own home -- a real apartment or house in the community -- with tailored support. SLS can cover help with cooking, budgeting, transportation, health routines, social skills, and more. The individual maintains choice over where they live, who they live with, and how their day looks. For a deeper explanation of how SLS works and how it compares to other options, read our guide on what is Supported Living Services in California.

Life-Sharing: A Different Kind of SLS

Life-sharing takes SLS a step further. Instead of living alone with visiting support staff, the individual shares a home with a carefully matched supportive roommate who lives there full-time. The roommate isn't a rotating aide. They're a co-resident and a genuine companion -- someone who shares meals, splits chores, and becomes part of the person's everyday life.

This is what Homies does. We match adults with IDD to compatible supportive roommates through a detailed process built around personality, interests, lifestyle, and goals. The supportive roommate provides daily living support -- cooking together, helping with appointments, encouraging independence -- while also being a real friend.

Life-sharing through Homies is funded by Regional Centers under SLS. For most families, that means no out-of-pocket cost. The Regional Center pays for the supportive roommate's services, and both residents share a regular apartment or house in the community.

The result looks nothing like a group home. It looks like two roommates living their lives in a neighborhood they chose.

How Homies Works with Lanterman Regional Center

Homies is an active SLS provider working with Lanterman Regional Center clients. Here is how the process typically unfolds.

Step one: the IPP conversation. Every LRC client has an Individual Program Plan (IPP) -- the document that outlines their goals and the services they'll receive. If your loved one's IPP doesn't currently include SLS or life-sharing, the first step is to talk with their LRC service coordinator about adding it. You can request an IPP meeting at any time.

Step two: requesting SLS. Once SLS is part of the IPP, LRC will authorize funding for a supported living provider. This is where Homies comes in. You or your service coordinator can refer directly to us, and we'll begin the intake process.

Step three: matching. We don't rush this. We spend time getting to know the individual -- their routines, preferences, communication style, and what they're looking for in a roommate. Then we identify a supportive roommate who's a genuine fit. Both people meet, spend time together, and confirm the match feels right before anyone signs a lease.

Step four: moving in. Once matched, both roommates move into a shared home in the community. Homies provides ongoing support, check-ins, and coaching to make sure the arrangement is working well for everyone.

For more detail on each step, visit our how it works page.

Why Life-Sharing Works in This Part of LA

The communities in LRC's service area are well-suited to life-sharing. Glendale and Burbank have walkable commercial districts, reliable public transit connections, and strong neighborhood identities. Pasadena offers access to community colleges, recreation centers, and a vibrant downtown. Eagle Rock and Highland Park have the kind of local culture -- coffee shops, parks, small businesses -- that makes it easy to build a real life outside the apartment.

Life-sharing works best when the person is embedded in a real community, not isolated in a facility on the outskirts. That's what these neighborhoods offer.

What Families Should Do Next

If your loved one is a Lanterman Regional Center client and you've been thinking about housing options beyond the family home or a group home, here's where to start.

Contact your LRC service coordinator and ask about adding SLS and life-sharing to the IPP. Be specific. Tell them you're interested in a supportive roommate model, not just traditional SLS with visiting staff.

Reach out to Homies. You don't need to wait for LRC to finalize everything before talking to us. We can walk you through the process, answer your questions, and help you understand what life-sharing would look like for your family. Visit our families page to learn more about what parents and guardians need to know, or go directly to our Regional Center clients page to start the intake process.

The right housing situation changes everything. It's not just about a roof. It's about waking up in a home you chose, in a neighborhood you belong to, with someone who knows how you take your coffee.

That's what life-sharing makes possible. Get in touch with Homies today.