WISH works to find people homes, one bank at a time

Published 10:00 am Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Community members who spare their change for an upcoming fundraiser will support an organization taking a practical approach to affordable housing.

Whidbey Island Share a Home (WISH) and Goosefoot Community Fund are launching the ‘Share your Change, Share A Home’ Thanksgiving fundraising drive starting on Friday.

Businesses, groups and individuals are invited to pick up coin banks to drop spare change in until Dec. 2, when they can be dropped off at the cash store for a “Making the Change Count” party.

Those who support the fundraiser can count on their change making a difference.

Funds raised will help many people — from students to senior citizens — find a living situation that meets their needs.

“By supporting WISH, you directly support providing housing to those who need it most,” said Bob Dalton, Goosefoot board chairman.

WISH matches those looking for an affordable place to stay on the island with homeowners looking for someone to share their house with.

The organization strives to make the home-shares meaningful and comfortable.

Both home-seekers and home-providers are screened through references and a background check before they’re accepted into the program.

Home-share arrangements can involve the payment of rent, an exchange of home services, or a combination of both.

“The program is truly a win-win for both parties,” said Karen Thomas, WISH board president.

“Many home providers are seniors who want to remain in their own homes but need help paying the mortgage or keeping up with home maintenance,” she said. “It’s a perfect opportunity for a home seeker who can pay a moderate amount of rent or put in some elbow grease.”

A good portion of those who have tried the program have found it very helpful.

“I’ve been 100 percent successful,” said Sally Buckingham, a current WISH home-provider.

“This is a wonderful cause. It provides safe housing for people that would normally not be able to afford a home on the island,” Buckingham said. “It promotes growth, security and public awareness in our community, which our island has been known for, for a long time.”

“It also helps people like me,” said Melissa McAlerny, a home-seeker who found a place to stay with Buckingham.

“I moved from not a very good situation, to having pretty much everything I need here,” McAlerny said, “And was welcomed into a home that was already established and willing to take me in.”

Buckingham, the house-provider, went through a difficult time after a divorce, and was helped out by a home-share situation.

“If I hadn’t had a wonderful family in Coupeville to take me in, I would have been out on the streets,” she said.

“I’m giving back what was given to me,” Buckingham said.

McAlerny credits WISH, and Buckingham, with providing her with stable housing as she started college and moved out on her own.

“It’s been a wonderful transition,” she said.

And McAlerny got along with her home-provider just fine.

“She’s the most amazing landlord to have.” McAlerny said. “And I stress to say ‘landlord’ because it’s not like that kind of relationship, it’s a friendship.”

WISH’s high success rate goes along with the fact that there are no surprises in the process.

“We try to lay it all out,” said WISH director Julie Pigott.

After being accepted to the program, Pigott helps home seekers and sharers create a profile that lists rents, preferences about smoking, furnishings, and even hobbies and interests.

Home-seekers and home-providers are self matched. They choose who they would like to live with, not the organization.

WISH also takes privacy into consideration.

“I don’t divulge names and phone numbers until both parties agree that they both want to meet,” Pigott said.

It is common — and suggested — that WISH participants meet with each other a couple of times before agreeing on a home-share situation.

“We’re trying to make the matches meaningful,” said Pigott. “So there are long-term friendships that can happen.”

Since WISH opened in January 2004, it has received application requests from 270 home-seekers and 99 home-providers.

During this time, WISH matched up 43 households, and averaged about two home-shares per month.

Of all the home-seekers matched up with home-providers, 13 have been together for more than a year.

“We’re not only helping short-term housing needs,” said Pigott. “But also we’re helping long-term housing needs.”

But, Pigott warns, the application process to find housing is not quick because of the precautions they take to ensure comfort and safety for all parties.

“Don’t wait until you’ve run out of options,” Pigott said. “Contact us before your out on the street or couch surfing.”

The cost of the home-shares vary from free with an expectation of exchange to $500 or $00 dollars per month.

“What our program could really use is people in the community who have homes that they would be willing to offer low rent,” Pigott said.

While home seekers tend to have a price range between $100 to $300 dollars per month, home providers tend to have a higher need of $300 to $500 dollars for rent.

WISH would like to expand its operations to meet more needs in more locations.

“The majority of the people we are presently helping are on the mid- to south end of the island,” she said. “Our hope is to have Oak Harbor and Coupeville really using our resources as well, because the need is really island-wide.”

Word of mouth plays a big part of WISH providing resources.

“Pass the word on,” Pigott said. “You could be helping the issues of affordable housing housing here on the island.”