HomeShare SLO
A Proven Concept
Have more house than you need? Thinking about adding a housemate for income or companionship? Seeking housing you can afford?
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Since the early 1970's, more than 60 non-profit home share organizations in the U.S. have made tens of thousands of successful matches. Smart Share's HomeShare SLO program joined them in 2017, facilitating more than 100 homeshare matches for SLO County residents, providing direct benefits upwards of $2.85 million--and growing by the month.
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Spring 2025 update: The HomeShare SLO program has temporarily paused facilitated matching services. Smart Share is focused on sharing technical expertise developed over the years to broaden community benefit. Now you can access a series of videos, documents, and information related to homesharing to discover how to set up your own homeshare!
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Client Stories
One Room Can Change Two Lives with HomeShare SLO!
HomeShare SLO
HomeShare SLO is a program run by Smart Share Housing Solutions. The program began in 2017 to connect people to each other--those who have an extra room to rent (Providers) and those who are looking for a room to rent (Seekers). This process is driven by the participants, not by HomeShare SLO or Smart Share. The program has evolved over the years and is currently focused on providing education, inspiration, and resources to help the public embark on and manage their own homeshares.
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Because home is a place you should feel comfortable in, Smart Share has a developed detailed, step-by-step process for finding matches. Following this process closely increases the chances of a successful match! Click the button below to access the Homeshare Step-By-Step guide.​
Homesharing Benefits and Common Concerns
People share housing for different reasons, including:
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Income. Your unused room could be earning $9,000 to $12,000 a year or more, depending on size and features. Use the extra income to pay for more services, home health care, home maintenance, property taxes, or vacations, or donate to your favorite causes.
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Quality of Life. Chronic loneliness can contribute to health problems. The majority of home sharing participants (more than 92%) report improved quality of life factors, such as feeling safer, less lonely, happier, healthier eating or sleeping better.
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Security. Many people appreciate knowing that if they were to have a sudden emergency, someone would be there to call for help.
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Enhanced Ability to Age in Place. With a little help with chores from a housemate, many older folks find that they can stay in their home and familiar surroundings longer than they could if they were living alone.
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Good for the Environment. For some people, saving resources by utilizing the built environment more efficiently is a good reason to share a home. The space is there, so let's put it to good use!
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Altruism. The "housing crisis" can feel overwhelming; it's so large and complex that solutions are evasive. But why wait for someone else to do something? Use what you have to make a difference today.
Some people find they are living in a house that is now too large since their children have left home, or they may be divorced, or one-parent families, single elderly persons or elderly couples.
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Renters may be college students, newly divorced persons, professionals recently moved to the area, traveling nurses, people consciously choosing to live more simply, or anyone in need of low cost housing who seeks the comforts of a home living environment and enjoys living with others.
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Regardless of the variety of reasons someone might want to share a home, many people share common concerns:
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Privacy. You're in control of determining private areas and common areas of your home. Sharing doesn't mean giving up privacy. We provide resources to help you make decisions and set boundaries.
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What About My Stuff? You decide whether to rent your room furnished or unfurnished.
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I'm Not Sure About Sharing My Kitchen. You may not have to. Not everyone cooks these days, and many renters get along fine with just a mini-fridge, microwave and toaster. It could cost less than $1000 to create a kitchenette in the room you're thinking about renting.
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What If It's Not Working--How Will I Get Out Of It? Having an exit plan is important and should be addressed up front. Our sample Living Together Agreements have this covered with proven strategies for ending matches that aren't working out (we're here to help as well) and also help plan for wrapping up successful matches as smoothly as possible when they reach their natural conclusion.
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I Like the Idea, But It Feels Overwhelming. We understand! That's why we started HomeShareSLO--we believe in the benefits of home sharing and want more people to start enjoying them. It's a proven concept and the steps to success are clear. We're here to help and we're dedicated to your success. Give us a call and let's talk. (805) 215-5474 or email us at info@smartsharehousingsolutions.org
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Join Us at an Upcoming Coffee Chat to Learn More. See our Home page for upcoming events.
Our Recommended Matching Process
The HomeShare SLO matching process has been refined over the years through our own experience and through networking with other home sharing organizations. From considering the possibilities, to listing your home, managing inquiries, and selecting likely candidates, our FREE "How to Homeshare" course will walk you through the process step-by-step. Once contact has been made, we highly recommend following our in-depth process as outlined below:​​
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Initial Phone Interview. Providers conduct phone interview with selected home seekers (pre-screened and qualified) using the provided interview questions.
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In-person meeting. Meet your potential match in person. (We suggest a neutral location, such as a coffee shop.) Again, we send you a list of questions covering the main areas of concern. You may want to have more than one in-person meeting.
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Show the space. Provider invites the Seeker to visit the home and shows the space available for rent. Smart Share will provide additional questions for this part of the introduction process.
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​Trial Match. If all goes well, we strongly suggest a Trial Match of a few days, with the Seeker bringing just a suitcase and any pets who will be part of the household.
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Paperwork. During the Trial Match, fill out the Living Together Worksheet (provided by Smart Share), which covers all the bases, from rent amount, to utilities, to parking and more. We've added space for your COVID precautions so you're both on the same page and agree on cleanliness, masks, visitors and outside exposure.
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Move-in. First month's rent and deposit will be paid at the time of move-in. HSSLO staff will meet with both parties to facilitate the signing of the Living Together Agreement, which we will keep on file. We will also take your photo!
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Exit strategy. The average home share match lasts 1-4 years. Make it a smooth transition by planning in advance with exit strategy guidelines as part of your written agreement.
A HomeShare SLO staffer will sit in on your first in-person meeting, if you wish, and help get the conversation started. Those who follow the process outlined above are more likely to have a successful match. HomeShareSLO staff will check in regularly to make sure all goes well, assisting with mediation if necessary.
Non-Discrimination
Choosing your home share partner is up to you. HomeShareSLO abides by the Fair Housing laws and accepts all applicants, regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, the presence of minor children, receipt of public assistance or gender identity. It is your decision regarding who you want to live with.
HomeShare SLO Matches
Dennice and Frank have been sharing a home since 2017!