As Maine’s population ages, more seniors are looking for ways to remain independent in their own homes. But with mobility and safety concerns increasing as we grow older, staying put isn’t always easy. In Windham, an innovative solution is on the horizon.
This information session and Afternoon Tea will be held from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17 at the Town Hall Gym, 8 School Road in Windham. Senior Director of Government Relations & Communications Erik Jorgensen will lead the session.
Jorgensen explained that the Legislature passed a resolution, authored by Saco Rep. Maggie O’Neil, to provide a web-based home-share pilot program that would help to match older residents with compatible adults in need of affordable housing.
“Though this is not a government program, MaineHousing was asked to conduct a request for proposals and that led us to Nesterly, which is a social enterprise based on the West Coast. We are currently part way through this one-year pilot program,” he said.
Every potential host and guest goes through a comprehensive background check.
“The background check report includes a National Criminal Search, a Sex Offender Registry, and a Global Watch list Search. It also includes an Address History Search and Social Security Verification,” Jorgensen said.
In addition, hosts and guests must be interviewed by a member of Nesterly’s social worker-led team to better understand their particular goals for the home share before making any placements.
The Nesterly staff look at issues of compatibility, they confirm that potential guests have a job or another source of regular income, and they spend some time getting to know the guest and the guest’s needs.
“The host has absolute discretion over whom to rent to,” Jorgensen said. “The host sets the rent amount and house rules. In many cases, the host and the guest can agree to a certain amount of work around the household (shoveling snow, lawn mowing, cleaning, etc.) in exchange for a reduction in the rent. The hosts can then meet potential guests over the Nesterly platform – they don’t have to reveal any personal information or the location of their home until they are ready to do so. If a host does not feel like a potential guest is a good fit, the conversation ends there.”
The leasing process is handled through the Nesterly platform using standard documents based on the length of the anticipated stay. Nesterly home shares must last for a minimum of 30 days, so they are not considered “short-term rentals.”
The benefits of using the Nesterly program are many.
“If you put an ad in Uncle Henry’s or Facebook, you may get potential renters and you may find the perfect renter,” Jorgensen said. “However, Nesterly is free to use, though a $95 to $195 booking fee is deducted from the first month’s rent and 2.5 percent of the rent is deducted each month to help pay for the services.”
Jorgensen also said that hosts never have to ask for rent, as payments are deducted automatically from the guest’s bank account at the end of the month and transferred to the host, less a 2.5 percent service fee. Nesterly also provides extensive support.
“Every month during a home share, Nesterly staff reach out separately to both the host and the guest to check in and see how the home share is going,” Jorgensen said.
Nesterly puts a great deal of emphasis on compatibility and security before a home share begins. Nesterly’s rental agreements can be canceled for any reason by either the host or the guest with 30 days’ notice.
Nesterly has been successful in greater Boston and several metros outside of New England.
If you’re interested in learning more about how Nesterly could help you or someone you know to age in place, don’t miss the informational session hosted by Age-Friendly Windham on Sept. 17. It’s an opportunity to ask questions, enjoy tea, and explore the benefits of home sharing.
Window Dressers, a nonprofit organization that creates and installs insulating window inserts to help Maine residents save money on heating bills and Sebago Lakes Fuller Center for Housing, a local nonprofit that focuses on home repairs for aging adults and veterans in need so that people can stay in their homes safely, will also be at the event.
To register for the event, RSVP at WindhamRecreation.com, or contact Erica Bell-Watkins, Age-Friendly Windham Coordinator at eabellwatkins@windhammaine.us or call 207-892-4649. <
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