"Homesharing" Touted as Housing Solution by Legislators, Advocates

With Massachusetts facing a severe housing affordability crisis, leaders from BlueHub Capital and community groups offered their strong support for H.1473/S.992, legislation to expand housing options in Massachusetts through homesharing, at a Joint Committee on Housing public hearing Wednesday. The groups urged lawmakers to advance it this session.

The legislation, sponsored by Representative Dan Cahill and Senator Dylan Fernandes, would establish a statewide legal framework to support homesharing: an arrangement in which homeowners, often older adults, rent out a room in their home to a homesharer, typically a younger resident or worker seeking affordable housing. These mutually beneficial arrangements often include affordable rent and, in some cases, help with basic household tasks.

“I was grateful for the opportunity to testify before the Joint Committee and express BlueHub Capital’s strong support for this commonsense homesharing legislation,” said Elyse Cherry, CEO of BlueHub Capital. “At a time when housing costs are soaring and hundreds of thousands of spare bedrooms sit empty across the Commonwealth, this bill creates a clear and thoughtful framework to safely and sustainably match homeowners with people who need a place to live. If just 10% of those empty rooms were rented, it would be the equivalent of building $25 billion worth of housing — without laying a single brick. We urge lawmakers to advance this bill and help unlock the full potential of homesharing to address our housing crisis.”

BlueHub Capital, Abundant Housing Massachusetts, the Environmental League of Massachusetts (ELM) and the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), championed the legislation as a practical, scalable response to a housing system that leaves too many residents behind. 

It was not clear how or if the legislation would differ from traditional 'roommate' arrangements.

The cost of building a single unit of housing in Massachusetts now exceeds $500,000, and rents remain among the highest in the nation. Meanwhile, there are more than 500,000 unoccupied bedrooms in homes across the Commonwealth. If just 10% of those were used for homesharing, it would be the equivalent of building $25 billion worth of new housing, without the expense or environmental impact of new construction.

States like Vermont, Oregon, and Maine have already seen success with similar programs, which have improved housing access, reduced isolation among seniors, and allowed younger residents to stay in high-cost areas.

Governor Maura Healey recently signed a law that offers legal protections to BlueHub Capital, which is a non-profit organization facing accusations of predatory lending practices related to its shared appreciation mortgage program. The law, which was part of a larger economic development bill, sparked controversy as it potentially shields BlueHub Capital from consumer protection lawsuits, according to advocacy groups like NACA. BlueHub Capital provides foreclosure relief by purchasing properties from banks and reselling them to the original owners through shared appreciation mortgages.