Home Sharing: A tool for addressing Portland’s housing crunch

Portland needs more affordable housing. But construction is expensive and takes a long time. What if we used more of the housing we already have?

Home sharing is an old idea that's getting a new look because of a startling fact: Due to demographic trends, the metro area has literally thousands of spare bedrooms sitting empty. No one knows the exact number, but estimates range from 100,000 to over a million.

Home sharing offers significant benefits when renters and homeowners match up.

• Renters pay less in rent. (Savings average $8,400 a year statewide.)
• Homeowners get extra income for renting a room. (Average $9,600 statewide.)
• Many renters and homeowners work out arrangements where renters do some household chores in return for cheaper rent.

Home sharing also offers several advantages over new construction when it comes to increasing Portland's housing supply. The rooms are already built, in houses that are already integrated into neighborhoods with streets, parks, public transit, shopping districts, and all the things that make Portland a great place to live.

"It's not just about the person who shares their home, or the person who has a new place to live," says Candice Smith, executive of HomeShare Oregon, a nonprofit that uses sophisticated technology to match up renters and homeowners. "It's about community and the importance of not just a place to live, but knowing that the place you're at is home."

Feeding the fish

View full size image of Homeowner Karen smiles happily for the camera. She is wearing a blue top with a mushroom motif.

Karen Wolfgang moved into her house in the Centennial neighborhood in 2013. For several years, the house was full with family, kids, and a home business. But changes in her family, lifestyle, and business led to some bedrooms sitting unused. "The house was under-utilized," she says. "I was starting to travel more and the place was empty when I wasn't there."

One day she got a call from her brother. He heard something on the radio about a nonprofit named HomeShare Oregon. That's how she connected with Suzanna.

Suzanna grew up in foster care and spent many years living in group homes. She has a disability and lives on a fixed income. Three years ago, she needed to find a new place and a friend suggested home sharing. "What do I have to lose?" she thought. She signed up with HomeShare Oregon, and connected with Karen soon after.

They worked out an arrangement that suited them both. Suzanna lives on one side of the house – with two bedrooms and a bathroom. They share the kitchen, laundry, and garden. Suzanna pays $550 a month and does some household chores like taking out the garbage, collecting the mail, feeding the fish, and cleaning the fishtank.

"It's been a huge win for both of us," Karen says. "She's a delightful person and I'm grateful she's there."

"This is a phenomenal place," Suzanna says. "Without Karen, I would not be in the place I'm in right now. I am so ecstatic to have a place to call home."

View full size image of Home sharing renter Suzanna smiles for the camera. She is wearing a blue tie-dye shirt.

Karen and Suzanna both agree: good communication and clear boundaries are key to a successful arrangement. They have separate entrances and there's a door between the two spaces that helps to establish space and maintain privacy. They've worked out routines to suit their schedules. For example, Suzanna generally makes herself dinner in the kitchen before Karen and her kids come home in the evening.

"Mutual respect and setting boundaries has gotten us a long way," Suzanna says. "Communication is very important. I respect her and her family and her home."

"Home sharing has been really positive for us, and I do encourage people to try it out," Karen says. "In the beginning, we were feeling each other out, but we've come to a place where we know each other, and we have a fondness for each other that is pretty deep. There's a light that shines through Suzanna."

Making the math work

Over 60% of the people who use HomeShare Oregon's platform (both renters and homeowners) are women aged 65+, says executive director Candice Smith.

"We know from our data that we have 3 distinct types of homeowners who are joining us," Smith says. "Those seeking income to stay in their homes, those seeking companionship, and those who need both."

This lines up with broader demographic trends. Many homeowners would like to stay where they are as they grow older, but they are squeezed by fixed incomes and rising expenses.

About 41% of seniors are still paying a mortgage. The average income of older adults in Portland is $64,181, and the average property taxes on a single-family home in Multnomah County is $5,381. At some point, the math stops working for many older homeowners, especially those living alone.

Smith and other advocates emphasize that home sharing is not an instant solution for people who are homeless or teetering on the edge of eviction. It can take time – usually three months – for homeowners and renters to find the right match. "We are not in the business of filling rooms with bodies," she says. "We match compatible individuals who will best succeed in a shared living arrangement."

Overall, however, home sharing does offer one of the cheapest and easiest ways for Portland to dramatically increase its housing supply. Earlier this year, the Portland Housing Bureau launched a homesharing pilot program offering a $1,500 bonus for homeowners who successfully share a room under the program's requirements.

"For many Portlanders, home sharing is a win-win solution," Mayor Keith Wilson says. "It helps homeowners supplement their incomes while providing low-income tenants with affordable housing options. We've seen similar programs thrive in cities across the nation, and I'm excited to offer incentives and support to boost home sharing in our community."

"We are homelessness prevention," Smith says. "The fastest growing demographic of homeless is women over 65. Once you know that stat, you won't be able to stop seeing these women who find themselves homeless."

Key stats

• Over 60% of the people who use HomeShare Oregon's platform (both renters and homeowners) are women aged 65+.
• Statewide (not just Portland) Renters see an average savings $8,400 per year compared to market rates.
• Statewide (not just Portland) Homeowners see an average income of $9,600 per year from renting a room.
• Renters provide an average of 3 hours per week of service in exchange for reduced rent, for an average annual value of $5,772.
• How many unused spare bedrooms does Portland have? Estimates range from 100,000 to 1.5 million.
• The average income of older adults in Portland is $64,181.
• 41% of seniors are still paying a mortgage.
• Average property tax for a single-family home in Multnomah County is $5,381 a year.
• (Statistics provided by HomeShare Oregon.)