1. Shared Housing

2. Single Adults in New London County
Coordinated Access Entry Point
Emergency Shelter
Daytime Drop-In Center
Social respite
Rapid Rehousing
Rental Properties
Permanent Supportive Housing
VA Grant Per Diem Bridge Housing

3. What business are we in?

4. Shelter as trampoline…even for high barrier individuals
BRIEF
Shelter as trampoline…even for high barrier individuals

6. A Key Challenge Many of our guests have very low income.
Makes it harder to find units
Makes it harder to sustain housing
We don’t have the resources for long term rental subsidies.
Achieving shorter shelter length of stay requires finding housing options for very low income individuals.

7. Can Shared Housing Help?
Informal—the extra room Formal—several people sharing a single apartment

8. Issues with shared housing
Shouldn’t people have their own place?.
There are real barriers:
If one roommate leaves, the one remaining is on the hook for the whole rent.
Landlord resistance to renting to several people with very low income.
Existing “shared housing” (i.e. boarding houses, sober houses etc.) are often of very low quality.
Having roommates can be hard.
Most housing subsidies do not provide for shared housing.

9. Opportunity Knocks
Donor offered us a bargain sale on a four family house

10. NLHHC shared housing Two-Three tenants per apartment.
Each with own room
Rent includes everything—utilities, cable, internet
Allow tenants to pay weekly
Month to month lease with standard lease provisions
Rent to “higher risk” guests
No special services but access to HHC supports
No formal “room mate” matching process.

11. Shared by Three
Kitchen
Living Room
Bathroom

12. Private Room Own lock We supply basic furniture
We supply for each room:
Own TV with cable
Internet access
Mini-Fridge
Rent/person/month: $450-$550
FMR:
Studio $748
One bedroom: $832

13. Income
Monthly Rent $4,120
Occupancy rate 95%
Payment rate 90%
Monthly Collections $3,523
Annual $42,271
Expenses and Loan Repayment
Utilities $10,000
Loan Repayment $13,200
Property Tax $6,000
Maintenance $3,000
Property Management $6,000
Insurance $2,000
Legal $2,000
$42,200
Occupancy people
Cost/person/month $390-$420

14. Key Lessons Shared housing will not work for everyone—BUT
It is far better than long shelter stays.
It can serve as a stepping stone for those whose income increases.
Supply TV and mini-fridge in every room to reduce friction.
Pay close attention to zoning rules.
Need to run in a compassionate but business like way.
Budget for evictions.
Enforce lease terms and pay attention to security.
Assure housing is superior to market.
Have a process to fill vacancies quickly.