Homesharing in Maine

Do you have extra room in your home?
Would you like help around the house?
Could you use extra income?

Did you know that people living alone make up over 30% of households in southern Maine?  Living alone can be expensive, and sometimes stressful. A solution for many homeowners in New England has been to rent a room to someone that can cover some of the costs and/or tasks of maintaining a home. When the match is right, both parties benefit financially and have the comfort and security of not living alone.

We will explain how you or someone you love could find companionship and additional income through sharing their home.

One these pages we have posted some self-help tools to get you started. See banner links on left, or start here with Homesharing 101. 

Why Homesharing in Maine?

As of the 2000 census, over 30,000 people lived alone in Cumberland County, making up about 30% of all households.  There are only about 20,000 housing units with one bedroom, causing a mismatch that contributes to the lack of affordable housing in Cumberland County.  A study completed by the Cumberland County Executive & Community Development Offices in 2010 found that 20% of women living alone surveyed said they would be interested in sharing a home with a compatible person, and that having good relationships with housemates and/or neighbors is one of the most important factors in safety and housing satisfaction. Already, 26,000 people in Cumberland County live with persons unrelated by blood or marriage, and it's estimated that 6,000 more people would be interested in combining households.

For individuals sharing a home, the increased income of having a renter or housemate (typically $300-$500/month) can make all the difference between living comfortably and living on the edge and could prevent foreclosure. For those individuals looking for a safe, affordable place to live, having more options spread throughout the county could mean avoiding short-term homelessness or debt accumulation. In addition, the relationships that develop from these arrangements have the potential to knit communities closer together and prevent isolation.  A survey done by HomeShare Vermont found that:

• 82% of home providers who have been matched with housemates said they feel safer in their home
• 77% feel less lonely
• 82% feel happier
• 68% enjoy their home more
• 36% worry less about money
• 50% sleep better, and
• 55% feel healthier.  

While younger people are able to find housemates on Craigslist, older people, particular those who have lived in their homes a long time, have a harder time negotiating housemate relationships, particularly across larger age gaps and cultural differences. We hope that these guidelines will help persons looking to share a home (and their friends and family who hope to assist them) in a responsible, safe and satisfying way.

Revised January 2013