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12-month home sharing pilot program begins February 2026.
About the pilot program
The Portland Housing Bureau (PHB) is launching a 12-month home sharing pilot program in February 2026, offering grants to homeowners with spare rooms who rent them via a qualified home sharing provider. The provider will connect prospective renters with homeowners who have available rooms, and may also help facilitate the application process and provide ongoing support during tenancy.
Terms and requirements for homeowners:
- The room(s) must be rented out via a Qualified Home Sharing Provider
- The homeowner lives in the same dwelling unit (e.g., house, apartment) as the tenant(s) occupying the room(s)
- The room(s) has been occupied by the same tenant for at least 30 days
- The homeowner must commit to renting or making the room(s) available for rent through a Qualified Home Sharing Provider for at least 12 months
- The tenant(s) occupying the room(s) is not a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, aunt, uncle, or cousin of mine or another member of my household (excluding tenants)
- The homeowner is not a Portland Housing Bureau employee nor is anyone else in my household
- The room(s) have not been rented out within the past 12 months
- Rent for this room or rooms is no more than $200 per week, including utilities and any fees
- The room did not and will not require a security deposit for any tenancy covered by the grant program
- The room(s) meet basic habitability standards (ORS 90.320)
- The room is registered with Portland's Rental Registration Program via Schedule R. More information about Rental Registration
Following 30 days of a successful rental via a qualified home sharing provider, homeowners must request a receipt from the qualified home sharing provider showing the rental history. Homeowners will then submit the receipt and the self-attestation form (link below) to the United Way of the Columbia-Willamette via email to HomeShare@unitedway-pdx.org. Eligible homeowners that meet all program requirements may receive a one-time grant of $1,000 for the first room and $500 for each additional room.
Educational Opportunities
Real Estate and Property Management Education (RPM) has produced an introductory class on local and state landlord-tenant codes applicable to rentals where the homeowner shares the property with tenants, including week-to-week tenants. The class also provide recommendations on navigating home sharing interpersonally. You can watch the class on YouTube here.
List of Qualified Home Sharing Providers
Subject to change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the qualification process for homeowners?
Step One: Homeowners list their available room or rooms with a qualified home sharing provider.
Step Two: Following 30 days of a successful rental via a qualified home sharing provider, homeowners submit proof of rental and a signed attestation form to United Way of the Columbia-Willamette.
Step Three: United Way will then provide eligible homeowners with $1,000 for the first room and $500 for each additional room.
Who should homeowners reach out to for questions about screening and safety?
Questions regarding background checks, vetting protocols, liability coverage, and check-ins following placements can be best answered by contacting our Qualified Home Sharing Providers. Currently, we have two qualified providers, PadSplit and Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon.
Who should homeowners reach out to for questions about protections for homeowners?
Regarding protections for homeowners, homeowners should refer to their insurance carriers to determine if they would like additional coverage. Potential recourse for homeowners and tenants in the event of conflict could include landlord/tenant mediation, and the court system.
Will prospective landlords be able to interview prospective tenants beforehand?
Different providers may have different listing and matching processes that prospective landlords can use to find a prospective tenant. You can learn more by visiting each qualified provider:
What is the Portland Housing Bureau's role in this program?
The Portland Housing Bureau is funding the grants to homeowners, as well as taking responsibility for evaluating and qualifying home sharing providers. The Bureau is also awarding capacity-building grants to help local organizations support homeowners and tenants in their communities who wish to participate in home sharing. PHB is not managing landlord-tenant interactions, facilitating rental agreements, or conducting any screening – these roles belong to the qualified home sharing providers, and may differ depending on the provider.
Will there be more Qualified Home Sharing Providers in the future?
The City of Portland is in conversation with several other potential Qualified Home Sharing Providers. This page will be updated as soon as more provider options become available.
My organization is interested in becoming a Qualified Home Sharing Provider. What is the process?
Please contact the Rental Services Office Help Desk at RentalServices@portlandoregon.gov for more information and to receive a Qualification Application Packet.
Is there training for homeowners regarding state and local landlord/tenant laws?
PHB has contracted with a local property management firm, RPM, to develop a class for homeowners regarding state and local landlord/tenant laws. This class will help homeowners understand the applicable termination processes. This class will be posted for free online when it becomes available in the next few weeks. The Rental Services Office (RSO) can also connect landlords and tenants to mediation services in the event of conflicts.
Do I need to register my home share room rental with the City's Rental Registration Program, and do I need to pay the registration fee?
All residential rentals, including individual rooms rented out by homeowners who live in the house, need to register annually with the City. Registration is done using the Schedule R form. Homeowners who participate successfully in this program will have the registration fee waived for the first year of renting. If the tenancy continues beyond the first year, they will need to pay the rental registration fee for all subsequent years.
Questions?
Breonne DeDecker
Manager, Rental Services Office
breonne.dedecker@portlandoregon.gov