Find Shared Housing programs - locate a Homeshare program near you.
There are a variety of sources to find a homesharing program near the community where you currently reside or wish to live. Some programs operate in local communities while others cover a large geographic area. Find details on Homeshare programs near you as well as national organizations that provide the services. Locate a house that is part of a local housesharing network near you.
As going through the process with an organization also be sure the following details are covered by the network. Also note there are some national organizations that operate homesharing services in multiple states - these are in addition to the local resources.
Local Homeshare Agreements
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Before finding a home to share, or a housemate near you, some details need to be worked out based on the areas laws and regulations. Both homeowners and potential housemates should begin the process by having a clear idea of what they expect in a homesharing arrangement. This should also be put into writing by the organization that brings the parties together and it needs to account for the rental laws in place near you.
- For example, a potential housemate looking for a private bathroom should not select a home with only one bathroom. A homeowner hoping to have a housemate who can drive him to medical appointments or to grocery store weekly would not find a good match with a student who attends classes all day. Note a housemate is different than a roommate, but some people may use the term interchangeably.
Having a written homeshare agreement is essential. Many of the agencies listed below help facilitate that process and have agreements that can be used by both parties. The homeshare concept is intended to make the parties equal partners. Each should be up-front and honest about what is expected and disclose any potential bad habits that might become annoying.
- Every homesharing arrangement is unique depending on the needs of the homeowner and housemate. Setting clear and mutually agreed upon expectations and boundaries is one of the most important steps to help ensure a positive homesharing experience. It should include expectations for keeping things clean and rules for use of the TV and shared spaces.
- The agreement should specify the amount of rent to be paid (f any), the date due and the services to be provided by the parties. It should also address issues such as smoking, pets, what hours guests will be welcome, under what circumstances either party may terminate the agreement and how much notice is required.
Find national Homeshare Programs with local operations near you
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The National Shared Housing Resource Center maintains a list of independent, non-profit homesharing organizations that may be near you. The Center currently lists dozens of programs in the U.S., and you can review the list at nationalsharedhousing.org.
Check with local, county or state offices on aging or that provide senior services. They focus on the disabled as well as elderly and provide housing resources, transportation and more. Locate help for senior citizens on a low income from Agency on Aging.
Contact regional housing agencies near you, such as a HUD agency, to get referrals to shared housing. There may also be section 8 vouchers or other subsidized homes for seniors. These non-profit PHA organizations may also provide rental assistance, housing counseling or landlord-tenant mediation. Some may offer homeshare matching services. More on HUD Section 8 agencies.
Single mothers can find a home to share with other single moms on CoAdobe. The organization is a nationwide network of mothers who share homes with each other as well as many of the other activities of raising children. Such as day care or baby sitting, cooking, shopping and more. Learn more on CoAdobe shared housing for single mothers.
Many senior citizens have experienced increased loneliness and isolation as a result of various issues, such as the loss of a spouse or just, in general, getting older. Rents have continued to rise placing increased financial pressure on seniors living on fixed incomes and young or inexperienced workers earning lower wages. Homesharing is a vital example of people helping people and offers a workable and welcome solution for many who might otherwise face a housing crisis. A few examples highlight some of the differences.
- Home Share Online (formerly Silvernest) has a process that begins by creating a profile and answering questions about the qualities desired in a housemate. Homeowners must provide information about the home and the space available for rent. Home Share Online matches homeowners with potential housemates whose profiles appear compatible and provides each with a list. Home Share Online also provides a homesharing agreement template and other tools to create custom leases and establish house rules. For more information, see Home Share Online.
 Front Porch - Home Match is a free shared housing program that serves people in the costly San Francisco Bay area. Typical of many programs, once an application is completed, staff visit the home and complete required screenings. Homeowners are provided names of prospective housemates (roommates) who can then get to know each other by video or in-person and exchange references.
Nesterly is a homesharing program that operates in Massachusetts, Ohio and Kentucky. Nesterly's stated mission is to make housing more affordable for all by helping to create mutually beneficial connections that range across generations, cultures and lived experiences. The program requires references, background checks and proof of employment from renters.
Program staff prepare leases, collect monthly rent and help settle any disputes that may arise. Nesterly charges a one-time booking fee of $95-$195 after a homeshare arrangement is confirmed. It also charges 2.5% of any rental fee for handling the payment process. See nesterly.com for more information.
A private, for profit company SpareRoom.com helps put people with rooms/houses available in touch with seniors. Background checks, credit checks and a full assessment is done by the company - for both senior renters (or any tenant) as well as the homeowner. They also have a trial period and find more on SpareRoom.com.
Homeshare International is a worldwide network of providers. Some of the agencies that have homes to share are based in the United States, but others are overseas. Regardless there are many different options out there, that may be near you, on this directory. Visit homeshare.org/.
Additional local house sharing programs
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There are many other local, state by state Homeshare programs that may be near you. They are listed below. The agencies may tailor their programs towards the elderly or single mothers. Or home sharing may be for someone with a disability or that was formerly homeless. There are also the directories above. Other places that may share a home near you are below.
California
Human Investment Project, Inc. (HIP Housing)
800 S Claremont St #210, San Mateo, CA 94402. Call (650) 348-6660
The location operates a shared housing program and also so called group shares for families with children and single women.
Senior Network Services - Shared Housing Program
Address is 1777 Capitola Rd, Santa Cruz, CA 95062, call (831) 462-6788
Catholic Charities Homesharing Program - Mother Lode Ombudsman
88 Bradford St, Sonora, CA 95370. Main phone 209.532.7632
Peninsula HomeShare Consultants
Pacific Grove, CA
Telephone number: 831.241.2333
The objective is to help senior citizen and elderly homeowners remain where they want to be, in their homes or apartments, by introducing them to carefully screened, compatible people who wish to help out in exchange for paying the rent or possibly reduced monthly rent. No live-in caregiving arrangements are offered.
Home Share of Ventura
Primary address: Ventura, CA, phone: (805) 477-7324
This program is sponsored by Housing Authority of Ventura as well as Agency on Aging. It allows homeowners as well as potential tenants to benefit and find more details on Ventura CA Homeshare - house sharing.
Elder Help of San Diego - Homeshare Program
The is for the greater San Diego California area. The location is 9590 Chesapeake Dr, San Diego, CA 92123. Call 619.284.9281
Affordable Living for the Aging
937 N Fairfax Ave, West Hollywood, CA 90046. Call (323) 650-7988
Homeshare as well as a specialty Shared Living Residence Program are available.
Human Investment Project, Inc. (HIP Housing)
Location is San Mateo, CA
Phone number is 650.348.6660
The center operates group shares for families with children as well as a shared housing program for others.
Colorado
Boomer Optioneers
3601 S Fairplay Way, Aurora, CO 80014
Call 303.895.5864 or (303) 895-5864
Sunshine Home Share Colorado
They cover the entire state from 3532 Franklin St Ste E2/E3, Denver, CO 80205. Phone: (303) 915-8264
Delaware
Friendship Homes For You
Newark, Delaware, telephone 800.390.0401
Runs Homeshare, match-up and shared living residences for seniors and those looking to help pay rent in the state of Delaware. Residences in nearby Pennsylvania will be coming soon.
Florida
Home Share of Pinellas County
500 S Walton Ave, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689. Call 727.945.1528
This service is a roommate service finder that is involved in matching people of all ages for a nominal fee.
Illinois
HOME (Housing Opportunities & Maintenance for the Elderly) offers the Shared Living Residence Chicago, Illinois
Call 773.921.3200
Resources for Community Living
Rolling Meadows, IL, 847.701.1554
The Center of Concern
Park Ridge, Illinois. Telephone - 847.823.0453
The service territory is Cook County Illinois. Resources and Homesharing is offered for people of all ages. Other programs administered include transitional housing with supportive services, rent help and homelessness prevention assistance. This center also serves as a Salvation Army extension site for financial assistance such as utility/gasoline vouchers, etc.
Homesharing Program of Open Communities is located in Winnetka, IL
1740 Ridge Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201. Call 847.501.5760
Center on Halsted
Location is Chicago, IL
Main phone 773.472.6469 x 445
LGBT intergenerational - Northeastern Illinois Area Agency on Aging
Address is Kankakee, Illinois
Phone number - 815.939.0727
Serves as a resource center and offers referrals services for older persons and seniors. Provides senior housing advocacy and information, legal aid, congregate and home-delivered meals, case management, homemaker, and elder abuse assistance.
Indiana
Neighborhood Enhanced Adult Residences, Inc.
Address: Merrillville, Indiana
Call 219.613.6278
Homeshare is offered for seniors 55+ in northwest Indiana. Also offers medication monitoring, housing with supportive services including meals, grooming, and miscellaneous recreational activities.
Louisiana
Shared Housing of New Orleans
Main office is in New Orleans, Louisiana. 504.896.2575
Maine
ASK - Homeshare, Inc.
641 St George Rd, South Thomaston, ME 04858, (207) 354-7077
Maryland
St. Ambrose Homesharing
321 E 25th St, Baltimore, MD 21218. Call (410) 366-6180
The non-profit organization runs a match service for homeowners, and will help them find compatible tenants to rent a room and share expenses.
Massachusetts
HousingMatch.org
They support the entire state. Call (617) 433-7733
Michigan
Housing Bureau for Seniors
Ann Arbor, MI. Call 734.998.9345
Offers Homeshare, property tax, and housing information. Emergency rent assistance may be offered in the form of elderly eviction prevention. Serves residents of Washtenaw County and other regions.
Allen Neighborhood Center
Address: Lansing, MI
517.999.2912
Missouri
Local Investment Commission Homesharing Program
Kansas City, MO
816.410.8346
New Hampshire
Moore Options for Seniors
Manchester, New Hampshire. Call (603) 206-2725 or (603) 206-2701
New Jersey
Women's Rights Information Center - Shared Housing
Location is 108 W Palisade Ave, Englewood, NJ 07631
Phone number is 201.568.1166
Housemates who try to sign up must be able to share financial obligations (including rent or mortgage) and need to be able to meet their own basic needs. In some cases, additional services such as senior care, housekeeping, or childcare are bartered for a reduced financial share.
Homesharing, Inc.
The site is at 120 Finderne Ave # 106, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. Call 908.526.4663
S.H.A.R.E., Inc., or Shared Living Residence Program
Address is 104 Cottage Pl, Ridgewood, NJ 07450. Main phone: 201.670.9605
Operates Prospect Place senior residences as well as Cottage Place.
Knoll Shared Housing, Shared Living Residence Program
Address: Sparta , New Jersey
Telephone: 973.729.4311
Cooperative Housing Corporation of Somerville, NJ
Somerville, NJ, call 908.526.8130
New York
New York Foundation for Senior Citizens, Inc.
11 Park Pl # 1416, New York, NY 10007. Phone: (212) 962-7559
Any match by this Homeshare program must include person 60 or over. Also helps people living with a developmental disability.
Home Instead
6443 Ridings Rd, Syracuse, NY 13206. Call (315) 667-2791
A combination of Homeshare and in-home care.
HomeShare/Long Island
Services are offered for Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Address is Mineola, NY, Telephone: 516.292.1300 x 2312 or x2235
Richmond Senior Services, Inc.
The office is at 192 Corson Ave, Staten Island, NY 10301. Call (718) 816-1811
Fairport Baptist Homes Community Ministries
The regional non-profit offers a Shared Living Residence Program. Location is 4646 Fairport Nine Mile Point Rd, Fairport, NY 14450. Main phone: (585) 377-0350
HomeShareNY - New York Foundation for Senior Citizens
11 Park Pl # 1416, New York, NY 10007. Phone: (212) 962-7559
This organization offers information only. It serves as a clearinghouse for information and referrals to non-traditional housing options for elder persons and senior citizens residing in Central and Upstate New York.
Oregon
Lets Share Housing
Address: Milwaukie, OR
Telephone 503.719.5444
The centers has information on and access to a nationwide and state of Oregon web-based matching program. It allows members and local families the ability to create their own unique shared households or apartments.
Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Call 503.225.9924
Pennsylvania
Shared Housing Program - Match-up Homesharing Program
Location is Exton, PA. Call 610.647.5256
This is a program of PA Home of the Sparrow.
Texas
Shared Housing Center - Living Residence Program and also offers the Match-up Homesharing Program
4611 Eastside Ave, Dallas, TX 75226, phone: (214) 821-8510
All services are for people aged 21 and over. Another program is the Shared Living Residence, and that is a 12-month service for older adults and homeless single-parent families. Match-up offered is considered a transitional and permanent housing solution.
Vermont
HomeShare Vermont
412 Farrell St # 300, South Burlington, VT 05403, call (802) 863-5625
The program matches disabled and elderly homeowners with caregivers & home sharers in the region.
Virginia
Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission
Charlottesville, Virginia. Call 434.979.7310. Or call the Piedmont Housing Alliance at (434) 817-2436.
Washington
Shared Housing Services, Match-up Homesharing Program
Main address: Tacoma, WA, phone 253.272.1532
This location helps people across Pierce County. The Homeshare Program offered here works with people of all ages, focusing on elderly and low-income/disabled and/or elderly. Another service is the Transitional Family Housing Program, which supports low-income homeless families in the region.
Anacortes Family Center - Fidalgo Island Share A Home
Anacortes, Washington, dial 360.293.2993 or call Anacortes Family Center at (360) 293-2993.
This program also offers motel voucher and runs shelter as well as transitional housing.
Housing Resources Board
Address: Bainbridge Island, WA, call 206.842.1909
Will match up individuals so they can share rent, mortgage, and other housing expenses or bills.
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