The Canadian Mental Health Association says a partnership between the province’s post-secondary institutions and SpacesShared will be beneficial for the mental health of seniors and students.

Yesterday, it was announced that Memorial University, College of the North Atlantic, Keyin College and Academy Canada are partnering with SpacesShared to bring the company’s home sharing program to Newfoundland and Labrador. The program sees students who need an affordable place to stay paired with seniors experiencing loneliness who have rooms to rent.

Catherina Kennedy, interim CEO of CMHA-NL, says the announcement comes at a time when the World Health Organization is considering designating loneliness in seniors as a mental health disease.

She says the program serves many purposes for both parties.

She says it provides seniors an income from rent, support in their home and a sense of purpose. On the other side, it provides students with a safe and affordable place to stay. Even more than that, she says, is the relationships that will be built.