U.S. Census data estimates there are at least 60,000 empty bedrooms for homeowners over 60 years of age in Sonoma County. These empty bedrooms represent inexpensive, immediate and long-term housing solutions. SHARE's Home Share Program matches Home Seekers with Home Providers who either own their home or have the ability to sublet and offer a spare bedroom(s). A room can be secured in exchange for an agreed upon monthly rent (a Rent Exchange), or with an agreement to provide designated household and/or personal assistance to the homeowner (a Service Exchange), or with a combination of both. This home sharing program targets those aged 60+ and creates affordable and attainable housing for those with extremely-low income (collecting Social Security, SSI or SSDI due to disability) and those with no income (those without a disability who are too young to collect Social Security and are unable to achieve work stability). HUD voucher recipients are eligible to use their voucher for a room rental.

 

The primary goal of this program is to keep seniors in their homes, allowing them to age in place and thrive when matched with a compatible individuals who is in need of housing stability. Those seeking housing through home sharing average age 55 years and are either newly or soon-to-be homeless. SHARE is committed to solving the problem of homelessness in Sonoma County by empowering those who are being frozen out of an extremely high cost of living area to find safe and affordable housing, one home share at a time.