Housingwith

Housingwith is a platform and community initiative that facilitates shared housing arrangements to increase affordability, resource efficiency, and social connection. It operates as a network combining an online marketplace with on-the-ground community guidelines and support services.

Users include landlords, property managers, roommates, and prospective tenants. The platform offers listings for rooms or homes, a matching algorithm that considers budget, location, lifestyle preferences, and accessibility needs, and verification steps for hosts and tenants. Tenancy agreements, payment processing, and dispute resolution resources are provided to simplify arrangements.

Key features include safety measures such as identity verification, references, and property standards; a rental- and co-tenancy toolkit with templates; governance mechanisms like neighborhood councils or host committees; sustainability features like energy-sharing or space optimization; and educational resources on tenant rights and housing policy.

Originated in response to rising housing costs and urban densification, housingwith has grown in multiple cities through partnerships with housing advocacy groups, universities, and local governments. It is typically organized as a nonprofit or social enterprise and emphasizes data privacy, consent-based data sharing, and transparent pricing.

Critics argue that sharing housing can fail to protect vulnerable tenants or may contribute to regulatory complexity. Proponents emphasize strong safety standards, clear contracts, and oversight to mitigate risk, along with efforts to scale affordable units through subsidies and inclusive zoning.

See also: co-housing, shared housing, affordable housing networks.