Loading...
CC SR 20210302 I - SBCCOG Home Share South Bay CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 03/02/2021 AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar AGENDA TITLE: Consideration and possible action to utilize City networks to promote SBCCOG’s Home Share South Bay program. RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION: (1) Authorize City Staff to utilize City networks to promote SBCCOG’s Home Share South Bay program. FISCAL IMPACT: None Amount Budgeted: N/A Additional Appropriation: N/A Account Number(s): N/A ORIGINATED BY: McKenzie Bright, Administrative Analyst REVIEWED BY: Karina Bañales, Deputy City Manager APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS: A. Home Share South Bay SBCCOG Flyer (page A-1) BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION: The South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) has partnered with Silvernest for a home sharing initiative and is seeking cities’ support in promoting the program. The program, Home Share South Bay, matches homeowners with compatible housemates to assist the growing number of older residents who may be seeking companionship and rental assistance. The benefits of home sharing through Home Share South Bay includes empowering older homeowners to thrive in their chosen homes and communities, free home insurance coverage, support for creating customized rental agreements, and ultimately helping homeowners who may be seeking companionship, living on a fixed income, or needing help with daily tasks like grocery shopping, transportation, or home repairs. 1 Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting Safer at Home orders, many seniors may be experiencing heightened social isolation. Home sharing may provide a solution for chronic loneliness, and Silvernest includes COVID-19-related behavior questions in profiles, including the following: • What are your expectations of a roommate in terms of mask -wearing and other pandemic safety behaviors? • What does your current social/work life look like? • What are your COVID house rules? Home seekers in this program are self-sufficient and gainfully employed but may be facing financial difficulties due to rent increases, medical expenses, etc. Home seekers must pass a background check to be admitted on the site. They are not currently living on the streets, nor do they have potential drug or alcohol use problems. Homeowners then have the ability to determine compatibility with potential home seekers through a screening and virtual interview process. Furthermore, the goal of Home Share South Bay is to foster long-term living arrangements. Lease arrangements can be month to month or in fixed -month increments, but long-term leases are encouraged. Leases less than 30 days, which the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code defines as a short-term rental, would not be eligible in the City. SBCCOG is seeking cities’ support in promoting this program in order to increase awareness of Home Share South Bay, particularly to individuals who may be feeling isolated and seeking companionship, who may want to age in place, o r need extra income and help around the house. The City greatly values its relationship with the SBCCOG. With Council approval, Staff can list Home Share South Bay on the City website under resources for seniors, periodically promote the program on City social media accounts, and may provide referrals to the site upon residents’ requests for information. Home Share South Bay, through SBCCOG, can be a valuable resource for seniors in the community. A promotional flyer provided by SBCCOG is attached to this report as an example of promotional materials that Staff may distribute. Staff recommends the City Council authorize the usage of City networks to assist SBCCOG’s promotion of the Home Share South Bay program. ALTERNATIVES: In addition to the Staff recommendation, the following alternative action is available for the City Council’s consideration: 1. Take other action, as deemed appropriate. 2 Do you have a room to spare? Homesharing Made Simple HOME SHARE SOUTH BAY Visit our Landing Page at https://silvernest.com/SouthBay Contact “Home Share South Bay” for assistance. Laurie Jacobs laurie@southbaycities.org PROGRAM is FREE to sign up – NO FEE to enter your profile. Option of reduced rent in exchange for help around the house.​ COVID protocols included in the matching process. SBCCOG is partnered with Silvernest, an online platform. This platform matches homeowners and housemates with a unique compatibility score. Private and secure in-app messaging lets you interview and get to know each other with confidence. We are with you all the way with tools and support to power the entire homeshare process. This program provides a user-friendly lease creator, automated rent payments, and $100,000 insurance coverage. If you answered yes to any of these, homesharing may be the answer for you. Do you want to age in place? Do you need extra income? Do you need help around the house? Are you an empty nester? Are you feeling isolated? Are you seeking companionship? Match and Screen Nest Easy Connect Homeshare Happily Ever After A-1