Martin County, along with most counties in most states, is facing a serious housing crisis. That crisis is especially daunting for fixed-income and low-wage earners with the need far outpacing the available inventory of safe and affordable units for rent or sale. To help individuals find safe, affordable housing, House of Hope has launched a Home Sharing Program. This program will have a positive impact on people in need of short or long-term room rentals (home seekers) as well as homeowners struggling to stay in their homes due to rising costs (home providers).

For information on all of our efforts with the HOME Initiative, please click here.

Home Sharing:

Home sharing is a simple arrangement where two or more individuals share a home, including private bedrooms and bathrooms, or other living spaces, for their mutual benefit. Unlike standard roommate sharing, our home share program highlights the supportive relationship between homeowners, property owners, and renters in Martin County. Through our matching process, we strive to promote dignified living for all, building a stronger community.

Our thorough match process includes requirements for both home providers and home seekers:

Background checks
Specific verification requirements
Credit checks
One-on-one interviews
Onboarding workshops

Benefits of Home Sharing:

For the Home Seeker:

Affordable rent
Opportunity to grow savings
Stable and secure living
Companionship

For the Home Provider:

Extra income to offset rising expenses connected to homeownership
Safeguard and potentially increase retirement savings
Stay in your home and community longer
Companionship

Information for Potential Home Providers

Unlock the potential of your living space – share it with Home Seekers and earn extra income!

Home sharing is a simple and rewarding way to put your home to good use. It’s safe, secure, and designed with both Home Providers and Home Seekers in mind. Let’s start today and explore how you can participate in our HOME Share Program!

Whether you have a spare room or an entire guest suite, there are Home Seekers looking for a place like yours. We simplify the process of sharing your rental property by following a clear and straightforward approach.

Home sharing allows you to:

Earn extra income: Offset your mortgage or simply make your property work harder for you.
Stay flexible: Share your space on your terms—whether it's short-term or long-term.
Simplify the process: House of Hope will help with your home sharing journey every step of the way.

Click here to learn how to become a Home Provider

1. Complete Interest Survey: This is a brief overview to help you explore your interest in our HOME Sharing Program. CLICK HERE to complete the interest survey.
2. Pre-Screening Intake: Our Housing Coordinator will contact you to conduct a pre-screening to assess eligibility and provide the Intake Form if applicable. This step will gather your household status, income verification, property ownership, and required documentation.
3. Program Profile Form: Next, applicants will be asked to complete a Program Profile form which collects your Home Share preferences and any additional matching criteria. This is submitted alongside the Background and Verification Request.
4. Background & Verification: We will perform background and verification checks to confirm your final eligibility for the HOME Share Program. This includes a home evaluation.
5. Attend an Onboarding Workshop: Each participant is required to attend our onboarding workshop, where we go over our guidelines for the match process and help prepare for the one-on-one interview with potential matches.
6. Match Interview: This step involves a personal meeting between the Home Provider and the potential Home Seeker, allowing both parties to meet in person and assess compatibility.
7. Match Agreement: This step finalizes the lease terms, the House of Hope Liability form and the Shared Agreement. Both parties are confirmed as a compatible match and ready to begin their Home Share journey.

Click here to see an overview of the process.

Home Provider FAQs

Who is qualified?

Homeowners in Martin County with an extra bedroom that includes a private bathroom, with shared areas such as kitchen, dining room, or other common areas. Additionally, a successful home evaluation, background verification, reference checks, photo ID and social security number verification are required.

What documents do I need to provide to prove ownership of my home?

To verify ownership, one of the following documents with your legal name clearly displayed will be required:

Property tax bill
Property tax receipt
Mortgage statement
Original deed
Deed of Trust

Do I need to make an appointment?

No, to begin the process, you’ll need to complete an Interest Survey. Details on the full process are outlined above or can be found here. Once we receive the completed form, our Housing Coordinator will contact you to discuss the next steps.

Will I have a choice in selecting the Home Seeker?

Yes, you will. Our HOME Share Program relies on a matching criteria and our matching criteria is based on the compatibility of both the Home Provider and the Home Seeker after attending our workshops and one-on-one meetings.

Do I have to pay for the background check?

No, House of Hope will cover the cost of the background check to eliminate any extra costs for our Home Providers and Home Seekers. Our goal is to make this program as affordable as possible for everyone involved.

Why do you need paperwork?

House of Hope is not a government agency. We are, however, required to collect personal information by law or by organizations that provide funds to operate our program. Other personal information collected is important to improve the services that House of Hope provides.

More questions?

The Frequently Asked Questions above are only meant to provide an overview. If your question is not answered here please email housing@hohmartin.org or call (772) 286-4673 during normal business hours.

Contact our Housing Coordinator

If you have additional questions about what it means to be a Home Sharer or about our HOME Share Program, please email housing@hohmartin.org or call (772) 286-4673 during normal business hours.

Information for Potential Home Seekers

Home Seekers, we can't wait to help you explore options in your rental search! Our HOME Share Program will offer rental properties suitable for individuals seeking a private bedroom and bathroom while sharing common areas and living spaces with the Home Provider.

At this time, we are working on building our inventory of Home Providers and are not accepting applications for Home Seekers.

Additional Information About Home Sharing

At some point in our lives, we’ve all shared our living spaces, whether with siblings or extended family members under the same roof. Home sharing is a similar concept, but it involves sharing a home with individuals who are not related. There are various types of home sharing; here are three of the most common:

Sharing with older peers:

Two retired individuals sharing a living space for mutual companionship, both of whom have similar interests and enjoy the same hobbies.

Intergenerational Home Sharing:

An older individual sharing space with a younger person, who may be seeking a more homely atmosphere that evokes the comfort of their childhood home.

Peer to Peer Home Sharing:

Two individuals of similar age who share common interests and hobbies, living together in a roommate arrangement.

Additional Resources:

While home sharing is not a new concept, we’ve gathered some additional resources to support you on your journey. We have partnered with the Shared Housing Institute, which creates tools, resources, and training focused on effective shared housing practices. Their work is strengthened through working with organizations like House of Hope, experts, and communities, all aimed at expanding housing options, including home sharing, to address the ongoing housing crisis.

Please visit their website by clicking here.

Home

(Housing Opportunities Made for Everyone)