The New York Times reports:
"We�re seeing greater numbers of marginal people," said Kirby Dunn, executive director of HomeShare Vermont, one of several hundred programs around the country that have been formed since the 1980s to help elderly or disabled homeowners exchange spare rooms for income or, more often, help around the house, but now being pressed to meet different needs.
"Historically," Ms. Dunn said, "the people who come to us have been looking for someone to provide services in the home. But now, money is the bigger issue for folks. There�s definitely an increase in people looking for a revenue stream."
Ms. Dunn said volume at the agency was up this year, with three or four times as many people seeking rooms as seeking boarders.
There are more than 100 home-sharing organizations around the country. (Here's a directory.) Many local agencies help with these home-sharing projects, such as this one in San Mateo, Calif., and this one in Kansas City.
No doubt a quick check of your local newspaper classifieds and/or a scan of Craigslist will point you to other leads.
In Chicago alone there are a dozen home-sharing organizations up and running.
The Chicago Tribune explains:
Not all home-sharing arrangements involve rent. Home seekers sometimes provide services and companionship in exchange for free rent. But in most cases, home seekers pay rent.
"Most of the homeowners in the program need income," said Sue Carlson, home-sharing specialist at the north suburban Interfaith Housing Center. Rents average about $350 a month. The agency, which has had its home-sharing program for 18 years, requires that the home seeker have some source of income. "We don't have a rule of thumb. But our instincts say someone paying more than 50 percent of their income for rent will end up in trouble," Carlson said.
Most home-sharing agencies ask the parties to sign an agreement, though it's not a legally binding lease. The agreement typically includes the amount of rent as well as certain expectations, such as when the renter might be available to help around the house. Usually, the agreements ask that the parties give each other 30 days' notice if they'd like to terminate the arrangement.
Home-sharing agencies admit it's hard to make a match and even the best matches aren't permanent situations. "The little things are really important," said Melody Geraci, home-sharing coordinator at the Lawyers' Committee. She notes that people like the concept of sharing a house, but the real stumbling blocks are issues such as whether the homeowner allows pets or smoking, or whether the house is close to public transportation.
St. Ambrose's Web site says home sharing has been especially popular with seniors who rent out a part of their home that was used by kids who moved away long ago. The site says:
Home sharing as a formalized service came into being and was promulgated in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Shared housing was touted originally by Maggie Kuhn and the Gray Panthers as a low-cost, simple-to-administer and neighborhood-friendly housing option for an aging population who wished to remain in their homes and neighborhoods. The concept of shared housing was promoted by AARP and other federal and state agencies as a new affordable housing alternative for seniors and others. Some nationally consistent, general characteristics of the program are:
- Home sharing is a housing solution focused on the elderly.
- Home sharing caters primarily to women. 75 percent of home providers and 50 percent of home seekers are women.
- Home sharing is an affordable housing response. Approximately 60 percent of the home providers are house rich�cash poor, living on a fixed income at or below poverty level. Approximately 70 percent of the home seekers are considered low-income.
