What Shared Support does

Shared Support Inc is a Pennsylvania-based 501(c)-style nonprofit organization founded in April 2005 by Elizabeth Devett that delivers person-centered support services to approximately 100 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families across seven counties in central Pennsylvania (Columbia, Montour, Snyder, Union, Northumberland, Lycoming, and Clinton). The organization's core offering is structured around five integrated service lines: Lifesharing (natural family home environments), Residential Habilitation, In Home and Community Support, Community Participation Support, and Employment Services. Its distinctive methodology, branded around a "presume capacity" philosophy and Circle of Support model, rejects typical group-living arrangements in favor of one-person-at-a-time service designs directed by the individual.

The underlying operational infrastructure is labor-intensive rather than technology-driven: services are delivered by Direct Support Professionals, Program Specialists, and Behavioral Specialists recruited through a UKG-based careers portal, supplemented by a Lifesharing partner network of families and individuals who receive monthly stipends, housing assistance, and 24/7 on-call support. The organization maintains a Squarespace-hosted public website and a branded merchandise e-commerce shop, but there is no proprietary software product, no mobile application, no API, and no documented AI or automation capability. Leadership includes Founder and CEO Elizabeth Devett (25+ years in IDD services), COO Drue Robinson (MSW, joined 2017), CFO Verné Dixon (joined 2021), CPO Kristie Wertman, Program Director Angie Collins, and Financial Manager Theresa Kratzer.

The revenue model is managed-services under government contract: Shared Support is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and delivers services funded through county-administered Medicaid waiver programs and Department of Human Services contracts. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. End beneficiaries are individuals and families; the contracting counterparty is the state and its county partners. Ancillary revenue comes from PayPal-based online donations and a small branded merchandise e-commerce shop, both of which are immaterial relative to government service contracts.

Name

Shared Support

Legal name

Shared Support Inc

Website

https://sharedsupport.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Shared Support Inc is a Pennsylvania nonprofit founded in 2005 that delivers person-centered support services to approximately 100 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families across seven central Pennsylvania counties, funded primarily through state Medicaid waiver contracts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Support Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (62321), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG), Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Transition & School-Readiness Support for Special Needs Children (HSAAAIAO)

Keywords

• Disability support services
• Person-centered supports
• Lifesharing arrangements
• Residential habilitation
• Community participation support

Headquarters

HQ city

Sunbury

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Human Services Contracts: Shared Support Inc operates as a licensed service provider under the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, delivering supports to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through government-funded waiver programs. Services are contracted through county partners in Columbia, Montour, Snyder, Union, Northumberland, Lycoming, and Clinton Counties. Revenue is generated through service contracts with government entities rather than direct consumer payments.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Shared Support Inc delivers person-centered support services to adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) across Pennsylvania under five core offerings: Lifesharing, Residential Habilitation, In Home & Community Support, Community Participation Support, and Employment Services. Services are licensed and funded through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services and contracted via county waiver programs. The organization also runs a small branded merchandise e-commerce shop for fundraising.

Product overview

Shared Support Inc is a nonprofit organization providing services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The company operates a single integrated service model focused on person-centered supports across five core service offerings: Lifesharing (natural family home environments), Residential Habilitation (tailored community living), In Home & Community Support (skills development and daily assistance), Community Participation Support (community integration services), and Employment Services (career development and job placement). The organization is licensed by the Department of Human Services and partners with counties throughout Pennsylvania. In addition to direct support services, Shared Support operates an e-commerce shop selling branded merchandise including apparel (t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, vests), accessories (hats, bags), drinkware, and phone cases.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lifesharing A residential support service where individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities become part of a natural family unit and share life and home with a Lifesharing partner. Positioned as the least restrictive, most inclusive form of residential support, integrating participants into home communities. Lifesharing partners receive monthly stipends, expense reimbursements, housing assistance, and 24/7 on-call support.
• Residential Habilitation Services provided in community living arrangements specifically tailored to meet individual needs, where each person is the sole focus and driver of their services without the complexities of typical three- and four-person community home settings.
• In Home & Community Support A dedicated team of direct care professionals who assist individuals in learning and developing new skills to enhance independence and inclusion, including use of community resources, recreational facilities, volunteer opportunities, and assistance with daily living needs.
• Community Participation Support A flexible service designed to wrap around an individual's community life interests and needs while promoting increased independence, potential for employment, and overall inclusion into the community.
• Employment Services Specialized services matching the unique passions, strengths, and skill sets of individuals with local business needs or self-employment ventures, including career assessment, job finding or development services, job coaching, and ongoing support for competitive employment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Growth from 7 individuals served to approximately 100 individuals and families served

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Pennsylvania County Governments (Columbia, Montour, Snyder, Union, Northumberland, Lycoming, Clinton)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Shared Support Inc partners with seven Pennsylvania counties to deliver disability services. These county partnerships enable the organization to provide supports and services to approximately 100 people and their families. Services are funded through county-contracted waiver programs.
• Pennsylvania Department of Human ServicescoreOthersShared Support Inc is licensed by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to deliver services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The organization partners with various counties throughout Pennsylvania to deliver high quality, innovative services specifically designed to fit the unique needs of each person supported.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Arc of Pennsylvania: Statewide chapter network providing advocacy and direct services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including residential and community supports funded through PA DHS waivers. Operates in overlapping county geographies.
• KenCrest Services: Pennsylvania and Mid-Atlantic nonprofit supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, and behavioral health needs through residential, in-home, and community-based services. Operates similar HCBS waiver-funded programs in PA counties.
• Penn-Mar Human Services: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit providing residential, day, and employment supports to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across multiple counties. Directly comparable to Shared Support's IDD waiver service model in PA.
• Chimes: Mid-Atlantic nonprofit providing residential, day, vocational, and behavioral health supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Comparable person-centered service model across multiple states including Pennsylvania.
• Access Services: Pennsylvania-based nonprofit providing behavioral health, IDD, and autism services including residential, in-home, and community participation supports. Comparable service portfolio and PA DHS waiver contracting model.
• UCP (United Cerebral Palsy) of Central Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania-based affiliate delivering residential, in-home, employment, and community participation services for individuals with cerebral palsy and other disabilities under DHS waiver programs.

Broad incumbents

• Caregivers America (Help at Home): Pennsylvania-based home care and community supports provider for elderly and disabled populations under Medicaid waivers. Overlaps with Shared Support's in-home and community participation support service lines.
• Bayada Home Health Care: Large national provider of home health and personal care services, including pediatric and adult disability supports across Pennsylvania. Comparable in-home and community-based delivery, though much broader in scale and scope.
• BrightSpring Health Services: National diversified provider of home and community-based health services including IDD supports, behavioral health, and pharmacy. Comparable in HCBS waiver-funded services at far larger scale, with a presence in Pennsylvania.

Regional players

• ServiceNet: Northeast US nonprofit providing residential, vocational, and behavioral health services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Operates a similar IDD service portfolio but in New England rather than Pennsylvania.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SharedSupportInc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shared-support-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shared Support