Harpswell is working to inform residents about a home sharing program called Nesterly, an online service that matches renters looking for a place to stay with homeowners who have a spare room.
Home sharing is a concept that involves two or more unrelated people living together under the same roof, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Harpswell Town Planner Mark Eyerman said the town would be a suitable candidate for such a program due to the number of single-family homes with only one or two residents and the need for more rental housing.
The idea of home sharing in Harpswell came out of the Affordable Housing Working Group, which was created in June 2022 to “explore the housing needs of residents and ways to meet those needs,” according to its mission statement.
Courtenay Snellings, a member of the working group, said its members came up with the idea when thinking about older homeowners in Harpswell who don’t utilize all the space in their house, could use someone to keep an eye on them in case of falls, and may need additional income.
“Rentals are impossible and very expensive, and their best asset is the home that they own, which they don’t need the size, (but) they’d love to stay in Harpswell,” Snellings said about such homeowners. “How cool would that be if there was some sort of a program to be able to have a win-win situation?”
The state passed a resolution in July 2023 to develop a statewide home sharing pilot program for older persons. The Maine State Housing Authority then partnered with Nesterly.
“When the idea of Nesterly was put forward, we were pretty excited about pursuing it,” Snellings said.
Nesterly, a Boston-based company, manages listings, screens both homeowners and renters, and handles the rent exchange, according to its website. Outside of Maine, the program operates in Boston; Louisville; Greater Columbus, Ohio; and Framingham, Massachusetts.
Nesterly takes care of handling the money, which Snellings said she likes because it removes the “confrontational aspect” from the process.
Nesterly takes a one-time booking fee of $95-195 as well as a 2.5% cut of the monthly rent. Homeowners make an average of about $6,600 per year through the program.
The program touts its security in the form of background checks and a vetting process, while working to match renters and the homeowners based on their compatibility.
After making a profile, homeowners get to know renters through in-app messaging and video calls before meeting in person for the final decision. There is also flexibility to cancel the arrangement.
“That’s extremely important in this case, especially when you hear about Airbnb horror stories,” said Ben Weintraub, a Maine Government Fellow with the town of Harpswell from Bowdoin College. “With this process, it’s just much more personalized, and I think offers a greater chance of success because of its strictness.”
Eyerman, the town planner, added that Nesterly’s flexible process helps reassure the children of an older person, who may worry about someone taking advantage of their parent.
The program is designed for long-term rentals, with the minimum rental period being one month and the maximum being one year before a renewal. Eyerman said it could be suitable for summer restaurant workers, Bowdoin students, traveling nurses, or performers at the Maine State Music Theater, for example.
Aside from the financial benefits, Eyerman said home sharing also provides older residents with “companionship.” One-third of adults 45 and older feel lonely, while nearly a quarter of adults age 65 and older are considered socially isolated, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“I can’t imagine what it’s like living in a house in Harpswell alone on a January night when everything’s dark,” Eyerman said.
The program has the option for renters to provide help with certain household chores in exchange for decreased rent, creating a “symbiotic” and “intergenerational” connection, Weintraub said.
The town is not officially endorsing Nesterly, but Eyerman said it is taking on the role of getting information out there. The town is talking to libraries, churches, and other community resources to spread the word. Harpswell Aging at Home is interested in pursuing the idea, as well.
“The town is not saying that this is a good idea for people,” Eyerman said. “The town’s interest is simply making sure that people are aware that this program exists and how they can find out more information about it.”
Local libraries also have offered to assist with technology for anyone who may need help setting up an account.
Snellings said she hopes everyone in town hears about the program and that the people for whom it is appropriate check it out.
“We’re really hoping that this will be an important piece of trying to get more attainable housing in Harpswell,” Snellings said. “It gives some of the folks who have the extra room the chance to get companionship, maybe a little help around the house, and some additional income so they can stay in their homes.”
