couch hopping: Portrait Of Smiling Senior Woman Sitting On Sofa At Home

To Ease Reentry, Help the Hosts Who Offer Couch Hopping

When Carlos first came to live with us he was about 16. A friend of my son’s, he had a long history of family and housing instability and had been recently kicked out by his mom. As his informal host, I thought I did everything “right.” We already had a strong relationship; I met with his mom, laid out house rules and talked about his plans for the future.