In the Nicochemian Ethics Greek philosopher Aristotle framed eudaimonia — flourishing, as the ultimate end of our lives. Aristotle’s philosophy seems interesting in a landscape governed by extrinsic focus, time poverty, and the commodification of nearly every aspect of our existence. This includes the most intimate corners of our lives including our health, relationships, and now our homes. Of course, the aphorism we still throw around on decorative door mats and entry rugs quite explicitly states ‘home is where the heart is’. The contemporary housing narrative could be no different — instead of heartfelt it is very budget friendly. In fact, it is so budget-friendly that there is something inherently unfriendly about it.

Today, most major share house and accommodation platforms use cost or rent boundaries as their primary filtering parameter rather than lifestyle compatibility, household values, or social match metrics. On the surface this appears fine but there is one thing this overlooks: the people you live with matter. Earlier this month, I had the privilege of interviewing Talika Thomas, the CEO and founder of SheShare which is the first online platform in Australia that connects women who are looking for shared housing and compatible female housemates. Pushing against the largely budget-oriented narrative, SheShare is designed to offer women with value-based living.

In a world where pocket often takes precedence over lifestyle, many of us may question the importance of value-based living for women. However, as it stands, shared housing for women is no longer an anomaly. Instead, it is increasingly becoming a routine, long-term and structural reality for several women. For instance, women above the age of 55 are among the fastest-growing group experiencing homelessness in Australia, pushing many towards shared living arrangements. Similarly, according to the results of a 2023 national survey by The Council of Single Mothers and their Children, single mothers are four times more likely to experience homelessness, leading many to form cooperative households. Given this situation, it is quite jarring that something like SheShare wasn’t launched earlier.

On the surface, the idea of SheShare appears quite intuitive: an all-women’s platform for share houses. In fact, Thomas herself described the platform as ‘bare minimum infrastructure’ for ensuring the safety and wellbeing of women who seek shared houses as an active long-term reality. Sadly, sometimes, we choose to walk over the cracks on the pavement because they are usually ‘someone else’s problem’. Other times, we think that things do not need fixing despite the disturbing accounts of feeling unsafe around a housemate who actively makes you uncomfortable despite your clear boundaries. Creepy housemate aside, but even on a more banal level, sharing accommodation with someone you don’t particularly vibe with can be very draining. It's kind of like that group project where you are buddied up with people you don’t get along with. If that’s a horror, imagine sharing a house with those people over the long-term.

It goes without saying that female wellbeing is critical. This year, in the Hologic Global Women’s Health index, Australia reached its record low scoring 59 out of 100. While we easily point to dimensions such as employment opportunities, healthcare and relationship stability to explain this drop, we often dismiss the critical role of housing conditions. Houses are not just places where we live. They are places where we grow. In Sue Monk Kidd’s novel The Secret Life of Bees, the fourteen-year-old protagonist Lily Owens leaves her father’s emotionally detached home to find refuge in a matriarchal household with three Black beekeeping sisters. Kidd’s novel may be read like a cozy fantasy but leaving places to grow into a new person is very common. That’s probably why most of us move out of our family homes because we want to examine our independence and freedom. We want to grow as people and perhaps even reach a eudaimonic state of happiness. Moreover, this desire to grow and flourish doesn’t stop with our youth. Instead, it is perpetually ongoing. Thomas expressed this beautifully in our interview stating that women are people ‘with futures ahead of them’. However, when the basic architecture for a secure home becomes an inaccessible luxury, those futures become stifled. Flourishing futures require something more than just a physical container. They require a space that offers safety, autonomy, and stability. Without these conditions, the pursuit of wellbeing is hindered by the daily panic of domestic precarity and the emotional isolation of living alongside strangers who feel more like landlords than flat mates.

SheShare reminds us that a roof is only the starting point of a home. Sadly, when we treat housing as a purely financial and budget-friendly commodity we relegate living spaces to the parameters of rent and square meters ignoring the psychological and social ecosystem that orients us towards our futures. Indeed, for women whether they be older women navigating systemic housing precarity, single-mothers or young women looking to move out, finding a flat mate isn’t merely about splitting the bill. Instead, it is about reclaiming agency, physical safety, and the mental fortitude needed to grow. Nevertheless, if home is truly where the heart is, we must owe it to ourselves and ensure that the hearts we live alongside can foster our sense of peace, dignity, and a flourishing future. We need more than a roof and SheShare helps us find precisely that.