I couldn't afford housing near my job. I pay $650 to live with a 77-year-old and help her with chores.
Kayla Mazza and Honey Donegan at their home in southern Vermont. Courtesy of Ben DiFlorio/HomeShare Vermont Kayla Mazza rents a room in Honey Donegan's home after working with a nonprofit arranging matches. She pays a reduced rent of $650 to help with Donegan's finances and occasionally does chores. The 31-year-old analyst and the 77-year-old nanny get along well and enjoy sharing the space. This interview is based on a conversation with data analyst and systems manager Kayla Mazza, 31, of Windsor County, Vermont. It has been edited for length and clarity. Every night, at 7 p.m., my housemate, Honey Donegan, 77, and I sit down to watch Jeopardy in her den. Friday night is often movie night. It's a lovely bonding experience, despite the 46-year age gap. Honey and I first met in March 2023, but our friendship has gotten stronger by the day since I moved into her home. A few months before, I'd landed a job at a nonprofit near Honey's town, an hour's commute from m...