Are you a homeowner with a spare room? Or do you know a neighbor living alone who could use help with heavy tasks like snow removal? Then read on...

Be a hero! Share a room with a local worker or student in need of affordable housing. Durango has priced out it's own workforce, and while construction is happening, it is honestly too little and too late. But one solution is to offer the bedrooms that are already here in exchange for some rent and/or help.

Homeshareonline.org is an app that matches homeowners who are willing to share with home seekers. Similar to a dating app, the profiles describe both parties and match them, so that the owner can find a compatible roommate.

Originally called Silvernest, the app was first developed in Colorado and is now in use in fifteen states. Oregon HomeShare has bought the app and uses it statewide due to their housing crisis. Southwest Homeshare is a local collaboration of housing and business leaders that now want to pilot this app in our area. But we need homes listed on the app in order to have a successful launch. This presentation is for interested homeowners and/or volunteers who will learn more about the benefits of home sharing and how to use the app.

Homeowners and housing seekers can do a profile for free. The app, like a dating app, protects all personal information (location, phone) and allows parties to message each other privately. The app includes a six variable background check and lots of information on how to home share successfully. There is a fee at that stage, but it is less than the cost of a more basic background check.

Please come, even if you are just curious, to learn more about how home sharing could transform our community from one that is exclusive to one that is inclusive of a much needed local workforce, from dishwashers to teachers.