Housing + Paid Support Hours — Supporting a Social Young Adult on the Autism Spectrum
Bronx, NY – near Yankee Stadium. Close to 4 / B / D trains (25 minutes to Midtown Manhattan; 10-minute BX6 bus to the #1 train at W 157th St, Manhattan).
Housing Provided + $200/month Grocery Stipend + $20/hour for paid support hours (~9–12 hrs/week)
This is not a typical agency support job. We are looking for a patient, proactive, high-energy person to be a paid live-in roommate and coach for a friendly, socially active young adult on the autism spectrum. He is fluent in both English and Spanish — Spanish is the language he connects with most emotionally — so being English/Spanish bilingual is a strong plus, though not a requirement; strong English is what matters most.
The role combines overnight live-in presence (compensated through free housing and stipend) with paid one-on-one support hours (community habilitation) at $20/hour (~9–12 hours per week, may vary).
Compensation & Structure (Please Read Carefully)
- Overnight live-in presence (unpaid): compensated through a free private room, utilities, internet, and a $200/month grocery stipend. This is a non-hourly safety presence — overnight is normally sleep time, not active duty. If you are actively needed during the night, that time is paid as community-habilitation hours, the same as evening support.
- Paid support hours: $20/hour for active support only, with estimated typical hours of ~9–12 per week (may vary depending on his schedule). Hours are logged via a tablet linked to the social-service agency that coordinates the arrangement, and paid based on actual time worked.
Note: This position provides housing and limited paid hours and cannot be used as a sole source of income.
About the Individual
He is highly verbal and very social and enjoys conversation — often about his own many interests and activities — and community engagement, in English and in Spanish. He loves art museums (he often goes on his own and seems to enjoy the quiet, and he also takes a monthly art class), classical music and jazz, and film — he makes and screens his own short films — plus day trips to the Hudson Valley, and he keeps a busy social calendar. He is independent in many ways and benefits from structure, patience, and skill-building support. He responds best to positive, non-punitive support: clear limits and consistency, never punishment.
About the Role
- Live in the apartment and share the space with another live-in roommate in the same role
- The two roommates alternate overnight duty and coordinate schedules in advance
- Paid shifts are typically 3–4 evenings per week (approx. 7:00–10:00/11:00 PM)
- A core evening duty is meeting him at a bus stop about 3 blocks from the apartment after dark and walking home together
- A short evening check-in to talk through practical problems and plan ahead — past roommates describe the role as being more coach than caregiver
- Additional paid hours may occasionally be available for weekends or daytime outings
- Finalists meet him a few times informally first (a museum visit, a walk in the neighborhood) — he’d rather live with someone he’s gotten to know than with a stranger
About the Neighborhood
The apartment is in a lively, working-class Bronx neighborhood. Like many NYC neighborhoods, it can feel rough at night. Candidates should be genuinely comfortable with city living and walking in the neighborhood after dark — we’d rather be upfront about this than have it be a surprise.
Qualifications
- Prior hands-on experience supporting people with developmental disabilities or autism (paid or with a family member) is preferred but not required. Please note caring for a sick or elderly relative, while valuable, is different from supporting someone with a developmental disability, which is what this role centers on.
- A supportive, flexible, non-punitive approach is required — someone able to hold limits and structure without punishment.
- English/Spanish bilingual is a strong plus, but not a requirement; strong English is what matters most
- Comfortable navigating NYC; experience living in NYC and having your own local support network are strong pluses
- Reliable, patient, and communicative, with a positive, high-energy style
- Shared interests — art, museums, music, film, day trips — are a genuine plus
The Home & House Rules
This is someone’s home as well as a workplace, with a strict no-substances policy. There is no smoking, drinking, or drug use in the apartment, and you may not be under the influence of alcohol or any impairing substance while on duty or responsible for him, including overnight. Zero tolerance.
Responsibilities
- Support daily living and household routines
- Support and coach daily living skills like cooking, cleaning, and organization
- Keep the apartment clean and organized to a high standard (kitchen, bathrooms, shared spaces — this is actively checked)
- Meet him at the nearby bus stop on scheduled evenings and accompany him home
- Hold a brief evening conversation to coach through practical problems
- Accompany on community activities as needed
- Engage positively in high-energy conversation
- Maintain a respectful shared living environment
