Vashon Household, an organization committed to preserving, developing, managing and stewarding affordable housing on Vashon, is seeking feedback from islanders to assist its staff in developing and launching a new home-sharing program.
Currently, Vashon HouseHold’s existing housing portfolio supports more than 200 islanders, including 125 rental residents, with 40 more units in development, as well as islanders living in 76 home-owner units.
The new home-sharing program will augment those efforts and is aimed at providing affordable housing for workers and seniors on the island, said Vashon HouseHold’s new executive director, Jason Johnson.
“Housing affordability and access is limited on Vashon,” Johnson said. “We cannot only build enough affordable housing to meet the current need. We have to be creative, look to regional models that are seeing success, and listen to the Vashon community about what else might work here on the island.”
Home sharing, he said, is a simple concept that matches home providers — including both renters and owners — with people who need housing. This not only helps to offer additional income for a home provider, and affordable rent to a home seeker, but can also be mutually helpful in providing help with household chores and social, connective support to people living alone.
With the new program, Vashon HouseHold would serve as a facilitator and clearinghouse for those seeking to live in shared housing.
Islanders who want to weigh in on the concept and contribute to Vashon HouseHold’s plans are invited to complete a short survey, at vashonhousehold.org/survey. This survey will take less than four minutes to complete and is completely confidential.
Correction: This article, as published in the May 19 print edition of The Beachcomber, misstated the number of islanders supported by Vashon HouseHold programs by listing only 125 rental residents. Vashon HouseHold’s portfolio also includes 76 home-owner units, bringing the total of islanders served by Vashon HouseHold to more than 200. We regret the error.
