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Local volunteer proposes home-sharing program to ease Port Angeles housing pressure
Summary
Retired physician Nancy Stephens outlined a home-sharing model to match homeowners and lower-cost renters, described a potential platform (Nestorly) and asked council and local partners to help recruit hosts and a partner agency.
Nancy Stephens, a retired physician and volunteer counselor, presented a proposal to the Port Angeles City Council to expand home-sharing as a near-term strategy to increase affordable housing options for seniors, working households and others struggling with housing costs.
Stephens told the council that home sharing means renting a bedroom in an occupied home and sharing common space for a lower monthly rent, sometimes in exchange for services such as lawn care or companionship. "Home sharing means that you rent a bedroom out of your house that you live in concurrently with your renter, and you share the public spaces of the house," Stephens said, describing the model used in other U.S. programs.
Stephens outlined an operating model from a platform called Nestorly: screening with two letters of reference, background checks, standardized contracts, optional income verification, and a one-time matching fee plus a 2.5% monthly platform fee; the service encourages exchange of services valued at about $15 per hour. She said Nestorly typically asks for at least 50 hosts and a local partner agency before launching in a new area and that she is recruiting hosts and meeting with local organizations to identify a partner agency.
Council members and local nonprofit representatives asked about partner agencies, insurance, and whether the program would serve seniors, students, developmentally disabled adults and workers on modest wages. Stephens and several council members noted the program could reduce housing barriers, help older homeowners stay in place and free up rental units.
Stephens said she already has 13 people who have expressed interest after four presentations; four said they were ready to host immediately. Senators and staff recommended that the City consider partnering with local nonprofit housing groups or the county housing resource center to reach the 50-host threshold. Stephens said she would continue outreach and report back when a partner agency or critical mass of hosts is reached.
Ending: Council members encouraged Stephens' outreach and suggested the city or local partners could play a host-agency role; Stephens will continue recruitment and return when a partner agency or 50 hosts are pledged.
