Limited exceptions for single rooms and roommates
if the owner of an owner-occupied, single-family home rents out a room in the home to a roomer or a boarder, and there are no other roomers or boarders living in the household, the owner is not subject to the restrictions listed under "examples of unlawful discrimination" on page 12.
However, the owner cannot make oral or written statements, or use notices or advertisements which indicate any preference, limitation, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, ancestry, familial status, source of income, or disability.
47 F urther, the owner cannot discriminate on the basis of medical condition or age. 4 8
A person in a single-family dwelling who advertises for a roommate may express a preference on the basis of gender, if living areas (such as the kitchen, living room, or bathroom) will be shared by the roommate. 49
Taken from pps. 13 and 14 of California DCA Tenant Handbook:
http://www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/catenant.pdf
Please excuse the formatting - I am not on my own computer so it's a bit difficult. Please also be careful, dear Blue (peace to you!) with this matter. While it is true that you may not be subject to the Fair Housing Act, which is federal, there is still CALIFORNIA law with regard to such things... and while you situation may allow you to discriminate on various levels, I don't believe it does when it comes to a disability. Not that your lady has a disability - maybe she doesn't. Since you're trying to work with her, that's cool. Again, if you decide it won't work, given what you've shared here, I'd say consult an attorney.
Again, peace to you!
A slave of Christ,
SA