Where to find a homeshare program and how to check it out
If you have decided that sharing a home could work for you, the next problem is finding a program. Homeshare programs tend to be small and local, and they go by different names from one community to the next.
No single list includes every one of them. A few starting points, though, will cover most of what exists, and this page walks through each of them.
This page covers the national directory of nonprofit homesharing programs, the government agencies that can point you to one, the matching websites that operate in many areas, and the questions to ask before you rely on any of them. If you want the basics of how these arrangements work first, start with the NHPB guide to how homeshare programs work.
Start with the national directory
The National Shared Housing Resource Center is a network of independent nonprofit homesharing programs around the country. It keeps a directory of programs organized by state, with contact information for each one, at https://www.nationalsharedhousing.org/program-directory.
The center itself does not match people or offer housing. It exists to connect people with the local programs that do.
One thing to keep in mind is that the directory only lists programs that belong to the network. If your state shows little or nothing, that does not always mean nothing operates where you live, so it is worth trying the other options on this page too.
Ask your area agency on aging
Every part of the country is served by an area agency on aging. These are local agencies that help older adults and people with disabilities, and the name varies from place to place.
Many homeshare programs are run by these agencies or work closely with them. Even when the agency has no program of its own, the staff often know what operates in the region.
You do not have to be a senior to call. Many homeshare programs serve adults of all ages, since a common match pairs an older homeowner with a younger person who needs housing.
To find the agency for your county, use the federal Eldercare Locator at https://eldercare.acl.gov or call 1-800-677-1116. You can also dial 211 and ask what shared housing services operate in your community, since the people who answer that line sometimes know of local programs that national directories miss.
Check whether your state runs a matching service
In some states, the state government runs its own homesharing program through its aging offices. Pennsylvania is one example. Its program is called SHARE, which stands for Shared Housing and Resource Exchange.
In that program, a housing counselor meets separately with the homeowner and the person looking for housing, checks references, runs background checks, and puts the arrangement into a written agreement. The counselor also supports the match after move-in. The service runs through local area agencies on aging in participating counties, and one person in each match must be over 60. Details are on the state website at https://www.pa.gov/services/aging/apply-to-the-shared-housing-and-resource-exchange--share--progra.
If you live somewhere else, ask your state or county office on aging whether a similar service exists. These programs carry different names in different states, and new ones start up from time to time.
Matching websites that operate in many areas
A few homesharing services run as websites instead of local offices. What they check about their members varies a great deal from one service to the next, so read how each one describes its screening before you count on it.
HomeShare Online at https://homeshareonline.org is a nationwide matching website run by a nonprofit homesharing organization. Homeowners and people seeking rooms create profiles and are matched on compatibility, and the service provides tools such as homesharing agreement templates. Basic accounts are free, and some tools, including background checks, may require a paid plan.
Nesterly at https://www.nesterly.com works with cities and local partner organizations, so it operates in a limited set of areas. It focuses on matches between older homeowners and younger renters, requires its users to go through screening before they can connect, and has staff who help with agreements and with problems that come up. Check their website to see whether they cover where you live.
Senior Homeshares at https://www.seniorhomeshares.com is a free service run by a small nonprofit, built for older adults who want to share a home with another older adult. Members create profiles and contact each other directly, which means the service leaves the checking of references and backgrounds to the members themselves.
- IMPORTANT: On any website where members find each other directly, treat a possible housemate the same way you would treat someone who answered a classified ad. Meet more than once, call the references yourself, and put every term of the arrangement in writing before anyone moves in.
Programs for single mothers
Some mothers raising children on their own look specifically for another single mother to share a home and expenses with. A separate page, the house sharing options-programs for single mothers, covers how those matches work and where to look for them.
What to ask before you rely on any program or website
Whichever route you take, a few questions will tell you quickly whether a service fits your situation. Ask what area the program actually serves, since some cover a single city or county.
Ask exactly what screening is done. Some programs interview people, call references, visit homes, and run criminal background checks, while some websites verify very little.
Ask whether there is any cost to join or to be matched. Ask who prepares the written agreement, and ask how long matching usually takes and roughly how many people are actively looking in your area.
That last question matters because matching is slow. It can take weeks or months, so a homeshare program is not a way out of an emergency. If you need a place to stay right away, the guide to transitional housing and how to get into it covers options that move faster.
Directories, agencies, and matching websites change what they offer over time, and no outside listing can guarantee how thoroughly any service screens its members. Confirm the current details with each program directly before sharing personal information or signing anything.
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