Home‑share program seeks $235,000 to expand services across Windsor, Windham and Northeast Kingdom counties

Connor Timmons, who introduced himself as executive director of a home‑sharing program, asked the House Committee on General and Housing for $235,000 to expand a program that matches people who have extra room in their homes with low‑income households or individuals seeking reduced‑rent housing in exchange for household services.

Timmons said the program pairs “hosts” who offer reduced rent in exchange for up to 12 hours of services per week with “guests” who perform household tasks (his presentation noted household assistance, not personal care). He described a screening process involving multiple background and reference checks, in‑home interviews for hosts, a matching process based on preferences and a two‑week trial period before entering a written match agreement. Timmons said average match duration is “slightly under two years.”

The requested $235,000 would fund geographic expansion to the bottom half of Windsor County, all of Windham County and three counties in the Northeast Kingdom (the transcript lists them as Craftsbury, Greensboro and Hartwick as test areas). Timmons said he plans to share staff with local partners to reduce startup costs: two part‑time case managers in the Northeast Kingdom, one part‑time case manager in Windham County, and one full‑time intake and reception position in South Burlington. He named the Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging and Windham‑Windsor Housing Trust as partners.

Committee members asked procedural and program questions. One asked whether a host is considered a landlord; Timmons said the homeowner remains the landlord and that the program’s written match agreement typically provides a 30‑day notice period (he contrasted that with a shorter statutory notice). Members also asked about maximum rent and program outreach; Timmons discussed marketing needs and said his group expects marketing costs to decline over time as the program scales.

Timmons described program safeguards: multiple background checks (the presentation referenced several layers of background screening and three reference checks per applicant), in‑home inspections of host residences, and regular case‑manager check‑ins during the first months of a match. He said case managers remain involved over time and can move to more frequent contacts for higher‑need matches.

Questions from the committee included clarifications about current service areas, the intake role and whether the organization’s outreach materials had been provided; a committee member said she had forwarded Timmons’s email with further details to the committee. The committee did not take any funding action during the session; the presentation functioned as a request to the committee and potential future budget consideration.

Why this matters: Vermont faces tight housing markets and limited options for lower‑income older adults who want to age in place. Home‑sharing programs pair household hosts and guests to increase affordable housing options while providing in‑home supports.

What remains unresolved: whether the committee or the House will include the requested $235,000 in an appropriations vehicle and whether the committee will require further documentation on tenant protections and program metrics before advancing funding.