Are loans available for low-income homeowners who need to make repairs or upgrades on their homes? The County of San Mateo through the Department of Housing offers low-interest loans to rehabilitate homes. These loans cover moderate (less than $25,000) or substantial ($25,000 or more) rehabilitation to single family residences, if the owners are occupants. Loans are available to low or low or very low-income homeowners, and owners of multi-unit rental properties that benefit low or very low-income families.
For information about any of the Housing Rehabilitation Loan Programs, call the San Mateo County Housing and Community Development Department at (650) 802-5050 or visit their website.
Do you match people of different ages, interests and genders? Yes. Clients are asked to complete a questionnaire giving them the opportunity to share with us their ideal home share arrangement, personal characteristics and other factors regarding living with another person. Clients have the opportunity to interview and select their own housemate and to check the references of clients.
Does San Carlos have a financial program to assist homebuyers? Yes, the City of San Carlos Redevelopment Agency offers a Downtown Assistance Loan Program for first-time homebuyers who are buying a home in San Carlos. Second mortgage loans up to $55,000 are available at a 3 percent interest rate with no payments due for the first five years. Eligible applicants must have lived or worked in San Carlos for one year prior to applying and must meet certain income limits. The income limits are by family size. These are the new limits: 1 person, $79,800; 2 people, $91,200; 3 people, $102,600; 4 people, $114,000; 5 people, $123,100; For more information call (650) 802-4263.
How do people apply to the Home Sharing Program? Persons can call our staff to discuss home sharing as a possibility for them. Contact HIP Housing at 650-348-6660 for information and to schedule an interview. The interview will last approximately 45 minutes and will involve meeting with one of HIP Housing’s Home Sharing Coordinators to complete an application and interview. HIP Housing has 4 offices throughout San Mateo County and staff bilingual in Spanish.
How do you complete a match? The two parties in a home sharing match are offered the opportunity to put their understandings in writing by completing a Living Together Agreement with the assistance of the housing counselor. Each participant is encouraged to review the agreement periodically to make any adjustments or changes. HIP Housing is available to help housemates work through any issues or concerns once the housing arrangement begins. If the match needs to end, each participant is expected to give the other party a written notice as agreed upon in the Living Together Agreement.
How does home sharing work? HIP Housing is a nonprofit organization which since 1972 has been connecting Home owners or renters (Home Providers) with persons seeking housing (Home Seekers) to pay rent, exchange services in lieu of rent or a combination of the two. Rent ranges vary from $500 on up with occasional lower rents. Some rents include utilities and others pay a portion. Service Exchanges involve non-medical care such as helping with meals, shopping, cleaning, companionship and doing errands. There are generally more rent exchanges than service exchanges. Each person has their own room and shared common areas of the home. After clients are interviewed by a HIP Housing coordinator, clients are given referrals and contact potential housemates on their own using a guide provided by the agency. HIP Housing’s Home Sharing Coordinators help complete Living Together Agreements between housemates and provide follow-up support.
How long does it take to place someone in home sharing? Clients are encouraged to keep in regular contact with their home sharing coordinator to receive referrals of potential housemates and then to follow-up with the referrals given by returning calls and making appointments to see potential housemates. The number of referrals given to clients of potential housemates depends on a number of factors: family size seeking housing, amount of rent charged/able to pay, location, pets, smoking and other personal preferences. HIP Housing’s staff will work with clients for the duration of the time they are searching for a housemate whether the client finds a placement through our agency or something on their own. HIP Housing cannot guarantee placement in a housing arrangement.
How long does the typical match last? If both parties are happy with the match and circumstances do not change for either side, matches can last for many years, with great friendships being formed. The average length of stay is over a year and a half with some matches lasting a short or longer period of time.
I have heard about Home Sharing. Can you tell me more about it? "Home-Sharing" is an arrangement in which two or more unrelated people share a residence, which could be a house or an apartment. This program is sponsored by the Human Investment Project Housing (HIP Housing), through funding provided, in part, by the San Carlos Redevelopment Agency.
The HIP Housing facilitates two types of living arrangements--match or service exchange. In a match arrangement, the home provider is matched up with a seeker who pays rent. In a service exchange, a home seeker agrees to provide services to the homeowner in exchange for rent.
Home-Sharing reduces costs, promotes independence, and provides increased security for both parties. To arrange an interview, call the Human Investment Project at (650) 348-6660. For more information, visit www.hiphousing.org.
My landlord just raised my rent again--It is very high! Does San Carlos have rent control? No, San Carlos does not have rent control. The market economy determines the prevailing rental rates for housing in the city. Many people have been able to utilize the services of the Peninsula Conflict Resolution Centerfor rent and other landlord-tenant issues. This service is free for San Carlos residents. You may reach the center at (650) 513-0330. For more information regarding landlord/tenant issues, visit www.landlordtenantinfo.org.
What are the benefits of Home Sharing? Whether a home provider or home seeker, one of the reasons persons decide to home share is because they find it difficult to afford housing costs on their own. For those hoping to find an affordable or low-income housing unit, they may encounter long or closed waiting lists. The reality of getting low-income housing within a short period of time isn’t likely. That’s why home sharing can be a unique housing option. Some clients home share until they are able to find subsidized or low-income housing while others choose home sharing as a way to keep their housing costs affordable on a long-term basis.
For home providers, with someone else living in the home they are able to continue living in their own home and neighborhood. Additional benefits of home sharing allow home providers to save money, put the extra income toward other personal or housing expenses, experience a sense of security, enjoy companionship and maintain independence.
With market rents unattainable for many, home sharing gives home seekers an affordable room in a home atmosphere. Many home sharers receive mutual benefits of companionship and security, the opportunity to help the home provider and being able to save money, reduce debt and keep housing & utility costs affordable.
What can you do to help encourage persons to home share? People may not consider home sharing an option because they believe they can find their own place, find a housemate on their own or may have had a negative experience home sharing on their own. For those seeking housing, finding independent housing may be a longer term goal and clients should take into consideration their ability to pay a first and last month’s rent and deposit, credit and debt situation and paying a rent that may be beyond their means. For Home Providers, they may have had a negative experience sharing with someone in the past. It’s possible they were not provided with the guidance and support needed to help make a successful shared living arrangement (i.e., how to interview a housemate, checking references, completing a Living Together Agreement, follow-up support). HIP Housing provides one-on-one support to clients to help create a positive shared housing arrangement.
What information do we need from the person applying for home sharing? Applicants are asked to provide proof of ID, names and phone numbers of three persons they would like to use as a reference, and proof of their income. Income information is confidential and used only for statistical purposes.
What kind of housing is available in San Carlos? San Carlos has studio, one-, two-, and some three-bedroom apartments; condominiums; town homes; and everything from small 800-square-foot cottages to large 3,500-plus square-foot houses. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is approximately $1,800 per month. Sales prices for existing homes range from $400,000 to several million dollars. There are also several short-term housing options, including some hotels. The average rents and sales prices have been steadily rising. (Note: Housing prices have been changing dramatically during the past few years.)
What type of client applies to the home sharing program? HIP Housing interviews clients of all walks of life including those who are working, seniors, single parents, persons with disabilities, persons exiting from a shelter, students and others who receive benefits such as unemployment, TANF, retirement or disability income.
Where are the offices located? The main office is at 364 South Railroad Avenue in San Mateo. The Redwood City office at the Fair Oaks Community Center is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The South San Francisco Office at the Municipal Building is open on Tuesdays. The Daly City Office at Peninsula Works is open on Thursdays. Persons can call our main office at 650-348-6660 to schedule an appointment in any of our offices. It doesn’t matter which office the client has their interview in. Each housing coordinator has the same housing referrals. If a client is home bound, a home visit will be arranged.
