The HoCo Home Share program, launched in 2025, connects homeowners who have a room to spare with local residents seeking housing, creating mutually beneficial living arrangements. The program expands Howard County's housing options, often at below-market rates, while giving homeowners added financial stability and, when desired, social connection or practical support.

All applicants complete background and reference checks, and each participating home receives a safety inspection. Program staff use smart, automated software to identify strong potential matches based on personal profiles and preferences, then guide both parties through introductions, development of the home-sharing agreement, and the leasing process.

HoCo Home Share is free for participants, thanks to a grant from the Howard County Department of Housing and Community Development.

How the Process Works

Application and Profile Setup

After applying for the program and submitting proof of eligibility, participants create a profile either online or through an interview with program staff.

Background Checks, Reference Checks, and Home Inspection

All participants complete background checks and reference checks. All homes are inspected for safety (paid for by Bridges).

Compatibility Matching

An automated matching system alerts Bridges of compatible homeowners and seekers. After a review, Bridges emails a mutual introduction to the matched participants. No identifying details are shared at this stage.

Introductory Meeting

If the matched participants agree to take the next step, Bridges arranges an introductory meeting at our office. Bridges and a trained facilitator from the Howard County Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center attend the meeting to facilitate a respectful, balanced conversation that focuses on getting to know each other, commonalities, and effectively addresses concerns either participant may have at this stage.

Home Visit and Lease Signing

Once both parties agree to move forward, typically after the home seeker has received a physical or virtual tour of the home, they meet to finalize a lease and Home Sharing Agreement. A trained facilitator from the Howard County Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center attends the meeting to guide the discussion and help participants resolve any areas of difference. The facilitator's role is to ensure a respectful, balanced conversation that leads to clear, mutually acceptable agreements without taking sides or making decisions for either party.

 

Eligibility Criteria

For Homeowners:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be the owner-occupant of a residential property in Howard County
  • Demonstrate that the property is current on mortgage payments or owned outright
  • Provide proof of liability insurance on the property
  • Pass a home safety and habitability inspection by a state-licensed inspector paid for by Bridges
  • Be capable of living independently and managing their personal affairs
  • Pass a criminal background check and reference check

For Home Seekers:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be capable of living independently and managing their personal affairs
  • Pass a criminal background check and reference check
  • Reside, attend school, or be employed in Howard County, or have a job-acceptance letter from an employer located in Howard County
  • Have an annual household income less than 80% of the Howard County area median income. For example, a 1-person household can earn up to $82,310 annually.

 

Have More Questions?

Feel free to contact our program team at 410-312-5760 x121 or hocohomeshare@bridges2hs.org 

FAQ

HoCo Home Share matches Howard County homeowners who have extra space in their homes with individuals who are seeking a room. The arrangement is mutually beneficial: the homeowner gets a vetted housemate, rental income, and, if mutually agreeable, companionship or help with household tasks. The home seeker gains access to additional housing options, often at less cost than for a market-rate apartment. It's a way for people to stay in their homes and communities while providing more housing options for those in need.

Homeowners create a profile that describes themselves, their home, and their preferences for a housemate. Home seekers also create a profile, which describes themselves and their preferences for a home and a housemate.

Our system suggests housemate matches by comparing each participant’s preferences to the profiles of all other participants. When the system alerts our team to a potentially strong match, we email a mutual introduction to both participants. If both participants believe the match looks like a good fit, our team arranges an introductory meeting in our offices or another "neutral" location. No identifying information is shared during this meeting.

You have no obligation to move forward and none of your identifying information has been shared with the other person. At the time of the introductory meeting, your prospective housemate has been given only your first name, your housemate preferences, and non-identifying information from your profile. 

Bridges collects only the information needed to determine eligibility, identify potential housemate matches, and support participants through the home-sharing process, and it does not sell or disclose personal information except as required to operate the program or by law. Only non-identifying details are shared with potential matches until both parties decide to move forward, and Bridges safeguards all data through secure systems, restricted access, and strict confidentiality practices. Our privacy policy can be viewed here.

Homeowner Profile Includes
  • Personal characteristics including contact and household information, age, gender, occupation, and habits around cleanliness, substances, noise, etc.
  • The home's characteristics including the city, type (condominium, townhome, single family), availability, ADA-compliance, access to amenities, parking, rent and spaces/features housemates can access
  • Preferences for a housemate such as gender and lifestyle habits
Home Seeker Profile Includes
  • Personal characteristics including contact and household information, age, gender, occupation, and habits around cleanliness, substances, noise, etc.
  • Housing preferences such as rent, lease length, city, accessibility, access to amenities, parking, and preferences for house access (bedroom, bath, kitchen, etc.)
  • Preferences for a housemate (for example, gender and lifestyle habits) as well as preferences for the home (rent amount, amenities, and more).

The profile and preferences include approximately 50 attributes. It typically takes about 25 minutes to enter these online.  

We’re here to help! Contact us at 410-312-5760 x121 or hocohomeshare@bridges2hs.org and we’ll help you get set up.  

We check references and run criminal background checks on all homeowners and home seekers. Participants are disqualified if these checks raise concerns about safety, reliability, or suitability for the program.  

We won’t suggest a match unless we see a strong overall fit based on your profiles and preferences. However, we will alert you both to areas of potential incompatibility and ask that you discuss how to handle these issues during the introductory meeting. Before you agree to move forward, you should both agree to a resolution in writing, as part of your Home-Sharing Agreement.  

We’re delighted that the staff of Howard County’s Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center (MCRC) will be available to support our clients through the process of resolving any issues.  

We recommend that you and your housemate sign a written agreement, called the Home Sharing Agreement, about key issues such as household chores, guests, noise levels, pets, smoking/drinking, and other areas that might cause conflict. We recommend that this agreement be attached to the rental agreement (lease) as an addendum, so that expectations are clear. Our program team will provide samples of the recommended documents, and as noted earlier, the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center will assist.

Most home-sharing matches succeed, but sometimes challenges arise. If something isn’t working, we encourage you to: 

  1. Talk openly with your housemate.
    Honest, respectful communication is often the quickest way to resolve concerns. Share what’s not working and invite your housemate to do the same.

  2. Get support with difficult conversations.
    If you need help navigating a difficult discussion, free mediation services are available through the Mediation and Conflict Resolution Center. Their trained mediators can help both parties communicate clearly and find workable solutions.

  3. Seek guidance on lease-related issues.
    If the concern involves a possible lease violation or legal rights, contact the Landlord Tenant division of Howard County’s Office of Consumer Protection. They can help you understand your options and next steps. 

 

Yes, you can specify these items when you set up your profile – but the interest must be mutual. Further, the homeowner should offer a rent discount in return for services that are beyond normal cleaning and upkeep of the rented space and shared spaces around the home.  

No, the program does not support this type of matching. We cannot vouch for the professional skills of any caregiver who uses the program.  

A reasonable range is $600-$1,000 per month for a single private bedroom, private bathroom, and access to shared spaces. The price could go up or down depending on your expectations about utility expenses, services provided by the home seeker if they are willing, and other factors. 

Consult a tax advisor. Depending on your age and income, you might be able to find free advice and help with tax preparation. 211 Maryland has a list of resources.  

Homeowners should maintain their homeowner’s policy. Ask your broker if you also need a rider to add landlord coverage.  

Once matched with a homeowner, home seekers should have renter’s insurance to protect their personal belongings. 

Typically, homeowners prefer to share their homes with a single individual, and in some cases with a single parent who has 1 or 2 children. However, we try to find a great fit for every client, so we encourage you to apply.