By Mark Griswold | FāVS News Columnist
The views expressed in this opinion column are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of FāVS News.
Poverty. When we hear the word, most of us immediately think of economic poverty, of not having enough money to provide for basic needs like housing and food. With the cost of housing drastically increasing, putting affordability out of reach of many, especially in the North Idaho region, this poverty is especially noticeable.
But Americans are facing another type of poverty, one of community. About a third of Americans have expressed feeling lonely according to the CDC. The AARP states that 40% of adults 45 and older are lonely.
A Gallup poll states 20% of adults feel lonely on a daily basis. This loneliness and social isolation are a major public health concern and are linked to anxiety, depression, heart disease and early mortality.
The good news is there’s a solution. Home sharing, where someone provides an extra room for significantly less than someone might pay to rent a single apartment, exists with formal structure in more than 60 cities across the U.S.
Locally, HomeShare Kootenai County is seeking to address both housing affordability and social isolation by matching people with extra space in their home with people looking for more affordable rents.
In the past two years, they’ve made 74 matches. In many cases, community and friendship are a major component. Volunteer Tom Lucas, who helps connect home providers and home seekers, says the relationships that form are often as important as the rent itself.
One example is a 58-year-old woman who was facing homelessness, doesn’t drive, but works blocks from where HomeShare has many of its rooms at the historic Roosevelt Hotel. What was a night facing trauma and panic over an uncertain future potentially living on the street turned into decorating her new home for the holidays.
Another heartwarming story shared by Executive Director Duncan Menzies is that of an 80-year-old woman who had been living independently for half her life but was forgetting appointments and missing medication reminders. She wanted to continue to remain independent and a caring neighbor had supported her with finances and check-ins.
Realizing the need for more assistance, the neighbor reached out to HomeShare, which was able to provide someone who now provides gentle reminders, companionship and supports her independence.
A home seeker with a background in caregiving understood the woman’s need for patience, compassion and dignity and was a perfect fit on the caregiver’s side, as well, since she could not work full time and needed stable, affordable housing. After one shared meal and conversation, both women felt it was right that they live together and, today, these two women have built a mutually-supportive relationship.
A home saved. A burden eased. A friendship formed. Exactly what shared housing can be and the reason HomeShare does what it does.
Some home providers may want to rent out an extra bedroom to help offset rising living costs in retirement, but some just don’t want to sit home alone or may need help with simple chores like yardwork or a trip to the grocery store.
The same goes for home seekers. While they often face greater housing affordability challenges, many are also alone in the community having just moved here and perhaps temporarily, as is the case with traveling nurses and visiting professors.
Having not only a roof over their heads that may come cheaper than finding something on their own — HomeShare caps rents at $800 per person per month for a single room compared to apartment rental rates of $1,508. Included in this cost is a built-in community.
Currently, HomeShare Kootenai County has its office in the historic Roosevelt Inn in downtown Coeur d’Alene — a success story in and of itself. Until recently, the Roosevelt Inn was a working hotel, but the previous owners chose to retire. It was in danger of being purchased by an out-of-state developer, torn down and turned into condos.
The community rallied together and saved the building with help of local real estate developer and former mayor Steve Widemeyer. Now, the historic building provides 13 rooms for many of HomeShare’s clients who have an affordable place to stay, their own bathroom and a shared kitchen and living area that helps grow the community.
While HomeShare is currently meeting the demand for rooms and is able to place home seekers immediately, it is looking to grow so it can help even more people find a place to call home. One of the concerns among potential home providers is sharing their space with a stranger.
That’s where HomeShare is so important. It performs a background check on all applicants and interviews both the homeowner and the home seeker so that a match is not just about money, but personality.
It’s an art, not just a science. Will these people, who will be sharing a kitchen and living room, get along and maybe even form a friendship?
Homeowners and home seekers don’t fit into any specific demographic. While most homeowners are, naturally, older and more established, some may be retired seniors needing help to make their monthly expenses and others just wanting companionship and help with tasks.
In that case, rents can sometimes be offset by help around the house. Some homeowners are even seasonal residents who want a house sitter during part of the year. Home seekers tend to be younger, college students or young professionals perhaps saving up for their first home. However, they can also be seniors.
Leases start with a two-week trial period and then go month-to-month with the option to end the arrangement by either homeowner or home seeker. So far, the majority of arrangements have worked out with some having lasted more than two years.
Homeowners set the parameters, including rental amount (with the $800 cap) and things like use of common areas, parking and quiet hours. HomeShare remains present for ongoing support and to ensure that matches are compatible and both sides are heard if mitigation is needed.
Beyond getting the word out to homeowners who may have rooms to rent, HomeShare is also raising money to expand its staff to help interview potential homeowners and home seekers. This staff will also help build the community by holding talks at the Roosevelt to raise awareness about affordable housing options, inspire local pride and give people a sense of ownership for the place we all call home, Coeur d’Alene.
Menzies and Lucas are wanting to connect with anyone who has a home or needs a home but especially groups in Kootenai County that have a lot of seniors, like churches and senior centers.
For more information about HomeShare Kootenai County, visit their website or call (208) 215-2269.
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