The following is a description of Shared Housing’s services, and how to access them.
If you have any question or comments please feel free to contact us at (503) 225-9924 or via e-mail at housing@emoregon.org.
1. Home seekers must to apply in person. Please call to make an appointment to come in. Office hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
2. Home providers may apply at the office, but as a rule Shared Housing will hold a phone interview and mail paperwork for home providers.
3. Both Home seekers and Home providers will be asked to provide the names and phone numbers of three personal references (local references preferable). We will also request permission to perform a criminal background check and (from home seekers) housing references for the past year.
4. Home seekers are required to bring a piece of photo identification.
1. Initial matching takes place as soon as we have completed our intake process. Once in our database, clients are matched continuously with each new participant.
2. Once applicants are matched, the parties are provided with general, non-identifying information about each other including first names and telephone numbers. Home seekers will receive their initial matches at the time of the initial interview. Clients are asked to follow up by a phone contact with those matches that interest them.
The phone interview gives both parties a chance to talk about needs and wants, as well as to exchange information about lifestyle. Any concerns should be raised during the first or second interview. We recommend that participants prepare a list of questions before the phone contact or meeting. We provide a Steps for Selecting a Homesharer sheet to program participants that contains more information about interviewing. If the phone contact is promising, the parties usually arrange a meeting and, if that goes well, they begin the process of negotiating a homeshareing agreement. Shared Housing strongly urges the parties to sign a written agreement before anyone moves in. Shared Housing provides all program participants with a blank homeshare agreement that they can use as a basis for a written document. The terms of the homeshare are to be determined by the parties themselves, Shared Housing is not involved in this process.
Shared Housing collects three references from each applicant. It is the responsibility of each program participant to check the references of anyone they are seriously considering for homesharing. Potential homesharers can be asked directly for references, or participants can call us and we will share reference information. We do not have the staff to check references, so please, no matter how urgent your situation may be, we urge participants to take the time to check references.
All Shared Housing applicants must agree to a criminal background check. Individuals convicted of crimes of violence or serious property offenses at any time in the past, or those convicted of any felony within the past two years will, under most circumstances, not be eligible for the Shared Housing Program. Anyone applying for the Shared Housing Program is asked to certify that they do not abuse alcohol nor do they engage in the use of illicit drugs.
All program participants are asked to pay a fee of $10 to $30, depending on income.
Shared Housing will attempt to support program participants after they have found a homeshare, however it must be understood that Shared Housing does not represent either party in a match, that we make no guarantees regarding the suitability of the housing or the homeshare relationship and that Shared Housing is not liable for any costs or claims that might arise out of the homeshareing relationship. We are happy to provide mediation services to Shared Housing program participants providing both parties are willing to support the mediation effort.
Until placement, participants are asked to contact us regularly (at least every two weeks) to check for new matches and to let us know that they are still interested in finding a homesharer through Shared Housing.
Shared Housing and Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender status or mental or physical disabilities.
No participant in the Shared Housing program is required or expected to accept any match referred by Shared Housing but program participants should understand that Shared Housing refers matches without regard to any of the above listed factors.
All Shared Housing program participants are expected to treat individuals referred by Shared Housing with respect and dignity
For more information, view Shared Housing FAQs.
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