What We Do
Smart Share Housing Solutions, Inc. is a local non-profit. Our volunteer board members and part-time staff believe that safe, affordable housing is a human right, and that a thriving, inclusive community is impossible without access to attainable, sustainable housing.
Smart Share Housing Solutions is a 501(c)3 non-profit.
Our Federal tax I.D. is 82-3151265.
HomeShare SLO
Facilitates matches between those with an extra room and those looking for affordable housing. Learn more
ADU SLO
Assists property owners on the logistics of adding housing units using backyards, garages, infill lots and existing buildings. Learn More
Co-Living Collaborative
Develops shared housing projects, including the Waterman Village, a neighborhood of 20 affordable small homes surrounding a historic adobe in downtown San Luis Obispo, now in development. Learn more.
Watch the video to find out more about people who are interested in living at Waterman Village. Then be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel. Stay tuned for a slew of new content!
Upcoming Smart Share Events
Happy Holidays!
Check back next year for new events.
For more information on all the exciting things happening at Smart Share Housing Solutions, visit the Events page on the website.
Meet Susan
Susan must work full-time, even at 75 years-old. She has spent her entire life in San Luis Obispo County and has been working since she was 16 years-old. Here is her story, and why she would love to live in a tiny house, in her own words.
In a system as complex as housing, there is not a single solution to balancing supply and demand. As a local non-profit, Smart Share Housing Solutions can get donations and grants to test out new ideas for housing that other investors or developers might pass over because they are unproven, or viewed as risky. Smart Share Housing Solutions thinks outside the box about how to make best use of existing infrastructure and buildings. Some ideas that we are pursuing or investigating include:
- HomeShareSLO - Facilitates matches between those with an extra room and those looking for affordable housing.
- ADU SLO - Assists property owners on the logistics of adding housing units using backyards, garages, infill lots and existing buildings.
- Co-Living Collaborative - Develops shared housing projects, including the Waterman Village, a neighborhood of 20 affordable small homes surrounding a historic adobe in downtown San Luis Obispo, now in development.
Our goal is systems change as well as direct service provision. It can take years to see the results of efforts at systems change; it's not as simple as counting the number of clients we've helped. We're grateful for the long-term vision of those who join with us in our efforts.
Smart Share Housing Solutions is a public benefit non-profit corporation. Your donation is critical to Smart Share's success!
Watch and Learn with New Videos!
Curious about tiny living spaces? Check out the new videos on the SmartShare YouTube channel. Learn about the unique considerations for tiny homes and energy efficiency. These videos were produced in conjunction with 3C-REN. Be sure to subscribe to our channel!
Smart Share Housing Solutions Office Hours: Monday - Thursday 9 am to 5 pm
805-215-5474 info@smartsharehousingsolutions.org
Smart Share Housing Solutions, a nonprofit 501(c)3 corporation, develops innovative housing solutions that add to the stock of attainable, sustainable housing. We are a 501(c)(3) public benefit non-profit corporation. Our Federal I.D. number is EIN# 82-3151265. Smart Share Housing Solutions is a member of the National Shared Housing Resource Center and currently operates three programs.
HomeShareSLO: Facilitates matches between home providers (people with an extra room) and home seekers (those looking for a home). It helps provide affordable housing with existing resources, allows for aging-in-place, builds community and empowers community members.
ADU SLO: Works to educate and inspire people around options for smaller, simple living options that add to our affordable housing stock. New state rules allowing ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Unit) on most single-family residential lots create opportunity for home providers to become part of the solution by building a new separate living space in their backyard, converting an existing garage to living space, or carving out a separate suite inside the home. Tiny House On Wheels (THOWs) in backyards, currently allowed only in SLO City and Arroyo Grande, are part of this mix of small, affordable-by-design dwellings. These spaces create family flexibility and can provide income through long term rental. ADU SLO is working with a regional ADU task force to educate the community and encourage production of these smaller homes in SLO County.
Co-Living Collaborative: Aims to expand housing options through development of affordable, eco-minded shared living created by converting existing commercial spaces such as older motels and bed and breakfast inns to co-living centers with a mix of shared and private spaces. The program has been evaluating potential projects since 2017. In addition to creating needed housing for lower income renters in SLO County, the goal is to create a model for such conversions that can be replicated in other communities. Our newest Co-Living Collaborative project is the Waterman Village, a neighborhood of 20 affordable small homes surrounding a historic adobe in downtown San Luis Obispo, now in development.
Choosing your home share partner is up to you. We'll provide pre-screened applicants who match your preferences. HomeShareSLO abides by the Fair Housing laws and accepts all applicants, regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, the presence of minor children, receipt of public assistance or gender identity. It is your decision regarding who you want to live with.