At 56, Anthy never imagined she’d be starting over.
For years, she had built a life in Atlanta. She worked as a recruiter, owned a condo in Kirkwood and later rented in the neighborhood for eight years. But a series of financial setbacks changed her trajectory. A short sale on her condo following the 2008 housing crisis damaged her credit. Years later, medical debt added another financial burden. Then COVID hit, her job was eliminated, and steady recruiting work became difficult to find.
“I never expected to be this age and be living with others,” Anthy said.
Like many people rebuilding after financial pressures, Anthy discovered that starting over wasn’t simply a matter of finding another job. Her credit score had taken multiple hits, and even as her income began to recover, qualifying for a traditional apartment remained difficult.
“I have very good rental references, but my credit, because of medical debt and student loans, didn’t get paid. It’s very hard to rebound your credit score, a lot harder than it was 20 years ago,” she said.
Finding Her Way Back
When Anthy lost her job during COVID, she gave up her Atlanta rental and moved to Florida to stay with family. She expected to be gone for six months. Instead, inconsistent employment kept her there for nearly three years.
By 2023, she had pieced together enough contract work to return to Atlanta, initially renting a room from a friend. Her goal was clear: rebuild her income, strengthen her financial footing and eventually get back into a place of her own.
That’s when she considered PadSplit.
Ironically, Anthy had known about PadSplit since its earliest days. Founder Atticus LeBlanc was a fellow Kirkwood resident, and she remembers hearing about the concept around 2017.
“I thought it was a great idea,” she said. “Although I didn’t expect to ever use PadSplit myself.”
But years later, the flexibility that had originally intrigued her became exactly what she needed. Rather than committing to a year-long lease while her employment was still evolving, PadSplit gave her an affordable, walkable place to live with more flexibility.
After initially living in another PadSplit, Anthy transferred to her current home, a newer property where the downstairs portion is specifically designated for Members 55 and older.
A 55+ Home and a Chance to Rebuild
Anthy has now lived in the 55+ PadSplit for about four months. Most of her PadMates are women, with one man, and include people who are working, searching for work, semi-retired or living on fixed incomes.
She says shared housing can require an adjustment for older adults, particularly for people who have spent decades living independently. But she also sees why the model can be valuable for people whose lives haven’t unfolded exactly as they expected.
“When you look at the options that are available, it is one of the better options because it does still give you some independence,” Anthy said. “It does still give you some flexibility.”
For Anthy, that flexibility is especially important because PadSplit isn’t the destination. It’s helping provide a bridge to what comes next.
Today, she’s working contract recruiting jobs while interviewing for full-time positions. As her work has increased, she believes PadSplit can also give her an opportunity to begin saving more.
Her experience has also given her a new perspective on the housing challenges facing older adults. As a recruiter, she has watched salaries struggle to keep pace with rising housing costs. And she knows she’s far from the only person reaching their 50s or beyond while trying to recover from job loss, debt, damaged credit or another unexpected financial setback.
Her advice to others in that position is to stay flexible, choose a home carefully and remember that the first option doesn’t have to be permanent.
“You have to be able to say, okay, I’m in a place I wasn’t expecting, but this is a good option,” she said.
At 56, Anthy is still rebuilding. Her goal remains to return to a home of her own. For now, PadSplit is giving her something she needs to help get there: an affordable, flexible place to live while she puts the pieces back together.
