Apply at the links further down this page, but first:
Don't waste your time, know what you're getting into! Read "How It Works" and at least skim the Frequently Asked Questions after that.
If you need a room to rent quickly, please first check our current and upcoming availabilities to see if there appears to be a fit for you.
1. Apply
Hosts:
Guests:
If you only want to be considered for one of our currently listed rooms/Hosts, just leave a voicemail with the info and statement requested in the green text for that listing on our Available Rooms page. (If you inquired to a specific listing through Facebook, Craigslist, etc, that same requested info and statement will be in the second big response message we will have sent you).
To be considered for future rooms/Hosts, you can apply either online or on our paper form (which we're glad to mail you). Takes ~ 10 minutes.
Here we ask Guests their maximum sustainable monthly rent + utilities. We would NEVER undermine a Guest by disclosing this number to their potential Hosts.
But if a Host offers $350 and a Guest says their max is $300, we will NOT contact that Guest about that room. Make the best "bid" you can that you're 100% confident about, assuming the room/Host were a pretty good fit.
2. Interview/Screen
Hosts: As soon as they apply, we'll interview them at their home. ~ 2 hour time commitment
Guests: As soon as we see that their application is a match for a Host (but not before), we'll interview them at a convenient meeting place. ~ 1.5 hour time commitment
Always for Guests, sometimes for Hosts: We pay for all background checks, which will require a Social Security Number (or ITIN) and a drivers' license/State ID.
3. Matchmaking
We write and run ads for our Hosts (while protecting their privacy), and manage the inquiries to them.
We contact each potential Host about each vetted Guest candidate. We share a lot of relevant specifics, while protecting the Guest's privacy, too.
When a Host agrees to meet with a Guest, we introduce them in person at the Host's home.
4. Draft an Agreement
We work with our matched Host and Guest to create a "Living Together Agreement" to get on the same page from the very start. We can tweak it later on, too.
5. Trial Match (optional)
The Host and Guest may agree that the Guest first moves in for a rent-free trial match of up to two-weeks, bringing just their "road trip stuff."
It’s rent-free because the Host may decline the match and ask the Guest to leave with only a day or two's notice.
Both sides can also agree to end the trial at any time and make the move-in official.
6. Support
Once the match is made and the rental contract with Living Together Agreement are finalized, we're on the hook to support the match over its whole life.
We check-in with each of the clients after the first two weeks, then monthly, and then every two months for the life of the match (whether by phone/video call and/or in-person).
Other must-know info
We do NOT help clients discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or creed, national origin or ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or citizenship. As soon as you ask us to do so, we can no longer work with you, so don't.
That's part of why we match folks up based on the specifics of who they are and what they're looking for... so that no one has to be disappointed by vague, misleading labels and categories.
We don't facilitate short-term rentals. Most of our matches are on a monthly rental contract, but we require that all parties must intend for the match to last for at least one year.
Unfortunately, couples and families should be advised that we have never yet managed to match more than one person to one room.
If I ask a client for "the secret password," the answer is "brown M&M's."
Frequently
Asked
Questions
Who's eligible to apply?
We welcome applications for matches in any home of any kind within a one-hour drive of Roseville.
We only have one eligibility requirement: that we would be glad to match you up with our own mothers. "Gray zone" items (e.g; health, criminal, financial) are ones that come up with clients that aren't dealbreakers, but that we would want our own mothers to know about before deciding on a match. We would never disclose such information ourselves, but instead we require that all clients disclose the "gray zone" items we flag to their potential match before any agreement is made.
How much does this cost?
None to you, ever! In fact, matched Hosts and Guests save money by splitting utilities, or even subscriptions, transportation, groceries, or whatever else you establish in your Living Together Agreement.
What about COVID?
We gladly accommodate requests to conduct business remotely, however feasible.
We also help Hosts and Guests agree on reasonable COVID rules they can both live by (vaccination preferences, just-in-case quarantine plans, etc.).
Note: Although we don't require COVID vaccination and booster, almost all of our Hosts do.
How long does it take to find a match?
It depends on:
how particular your needs/abilities are
e.g; desired rent, pets, etc.
how many Hosts/Guests are working with HomeShare American River
You can help us and yourself by spreading the word about us
What if one or both of us want to end the match?
Our template rental contract makes it clear how matches end, and we can help facilitate move-outs to some degree. We use why the match didn't work to re-match folks successfully... as long as they held themselves as good as their word.
What services can people exchange?
So many! Things you take for granted doing every day may be out of reach to others (literally!). You don't have to be an IT expert to open up the Internet to someone for the first time. You don't have to be a therapist to make someone feel heard. And don't forget that Hosts can provide services to Guests, too!
While we don't get involved in medical care (e.g; meds management), we are happy to work with In-Home Supportive Services recipients and providers to augment and support their relationship.
What does your background check include?
credit report
previous address history
bad checks
CA evictions
nationwide/Federal criminal, sex offender, terrorist search
And we pay for it!
Will I be safe sharing a home?
Historically, nonprofit-supported homesharing has been remarkably safe. And homesharers usually report that living with another person actually makes them feel safer in their home than living alone.
Thanks for reading!
Application options:
To protect your privacy, none of your personal identifying information will be shared with any potential matches until you both agree to be introduced to each other.
There's a lot of questions here, because you deserve to be fully heard about what you need and want in a homeshare.
So take your time, go with the flow, and if you hit a snag, no worries! We'll clarify everything in your follow-up interview, which we'll schedule shortly after receiving your application.
Apply on paper:
Print and mail applications to:
HSAR, 4305 Roosevelt Ave, Sacramento, CA 95820
If you'd like any help or clarifications, or if you need accommodation to apply entirely by phone, just let us know.