SMART SHARE HOUSING SOLUTIONS INC

What SMART SHARE HOUSING SOLUTIONS INC does

Smart Share Housing Solutions Inc (SSHS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 and headquartered in San Luis Obispo, California, that delivers affordable housing solutions across San Luis Obispo County through three integrated programs. HomeShare SLO operates a structured 10-step matching process (background checks, interviews, trial matches, living-together agreements) connecting home providers with seekers; ADU SLO, launched in 2019, educates and assists property owners on adding Accessory Dwelling Units and Tiny Houses on Wheels; and the Co-Living Collaborative investigates and develops co-living sites, most prominently the Waterman Village micro-village in downtown SLO.

The organization's tangible "technology" is largely physical and educational rather than software-based: it maintains an Off-Grid Demo Caretaker's Cottage at 466 Dana Street featuring solar electric systems and waterless toilet infrastructure, publishes a YouTube how-to-homeshare video series, and partners with architects, engineers, and historic preservation specialists to deliver the Waterman Village project (20 senior homes, historic adobe rehabilitation, neighborhood park). The tech stack for outreach is a Wix-hosted website, email newsletter, and social channels (YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), with no APIs or proprietary software product.

SSHS funds operations through individual donations, foundation grants (notably Community Foundation SLO's Mortgage House Grant), and fee-based ADU SLO contract services available to individuals and jurisdictions. The organization is staffed by a small part-time team and volunteer board, and reports cumulative outcomes of 1,700 individuals mentored, 169 individuals matched in 105 homeshare pairs, 7,812 event attendees, and $3M in financial benefit to matched clients. Approximately 80% of clientele are senior single women earning under $1,500/month.

Name

SMART SHARE HOUSING SOLUTIONS INC

Legal name

Smart Share Housing Solutions, Inc.

Website

https://smartsharehousingsolutions.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Smart Share Housing Solutions Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2017 in San Luis Obispo that operates HomeShare SLO (homesharing matching), ADU SLO (accessory dwelling unit education), and the Co-Living Collaborative (including Waterman Village) to deliver affordable housing options for low-income and senior residents of San Luis Obispo County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Affordable Housing Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Continuing Care Retirement Communities and Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (6233), Assisted Living Facilities for the Elderly (623312)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Affordable Housing & Community Development (Housing, Community Land Trusts) (BPAGALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Affordable/Subsidized Independent Living (HUD/LIHTC) Communities (HLADAAAB), Housing & Placement Coordination (Assisted Living, Memory Care, SNF) (HSABAIAL), Public & Affordable Housing Programs (Subsidies, Vouchers, Public Housing) (BPAIANAA), Co-Living Private Rooms (Short-Term) (THAMABAI)

Keywords

• Affordable housing services
• Homesharing matching
• ADU education
• Co-living development
• Housing nonprofit programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Luis Obispo

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization relies on donations from individuals and organizations to fund operations and programs. Smart Share Housing Solutions is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
2. Grants: Funding from grant organizations including Community Foundation SLO for the Mortgage House Grant program and other foundation grants that fund Smart Share's services.
3. Contract Services: ADU SLO contract services available on a fee basis to individuals and jurisdictions seeking assistance with ADU planning and implementation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Smart Share Housing Solutions is a nonprofit that connects people and homes in San Luis Obispo County through three integrated programs: HomeShare SLO (matching home providers with home seekers), ADU SLO (educating property owners on Accessory Dwelling Units and Tiny Houses on Wheels), and Co-Living Collaborative (developing co-living housing centers such as the Waterman Village Project). The organization delivers services through one-on-one housing mentoring, workshops, online educational resources, and direct development of affordable housing.

Product overview

Smart Share Housing Solutions Inc operates as a nonprofit housing organization offering three core programs: HomeShare SLO (a homesharing matching service), ADU SLO (accessory dwelling unit education and support), and Co-Living Collaborative (affordable co-living housing development). The Waterman Village Project is a major development initiative combining rehabilitation of a historic adobe with new construction of 20 micro-homes for seniors. The organization provides housing mentoring, educational resources, and community workshops rather than a software product or platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HomeShare SLO A homesharing program that matches home providers with home seekers in San Luis Obispo County, helping homeowners find housemates for income or companionship while providing affordable housing options for seekers. Although not currently accepting new applications, the program offers extensive educational and inspirational content through its blog and YouTube channel.
• ADU SLO Program that assists property owners with the logistics of adding housing units using backyards, garages, infill lots, and existing buildings through Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and Tiny Houses on Wheels (THOWs) in San Luis Obispo County. Contract services are available on a fee basis to individuals and jurisdictions seeking ADU planning assistance.
• Co-Living Collaborative A program exploring opportunities to establish co-living centers in San Luis Obispo County by investigating older motels, bed-and-breakfast inns, large residences, and under-utilized commercial or public properties for conversion to co-living housing with common areas, a sense of community, and privacy.
• Waterman Village Project A micro-village co-living development in conjunction with the City of San Luis Obispo featuring a car-free cottage cluster community downtown, including rehabilitation of the historic Rosa Butron de Canet Adobe, the Mary Gail Black Neighborhood Park, and 20 accessible homes for seniors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1700 individuals received housing mentoring and resources
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• City of San Luis ObispocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partnership for the Waterman Village Project, a micro village co-living center in downtown SLO. The City partnership involves rehabilitation of the historic Rosa Butron de Canet Adobe and development of 20 accessible homes for seniors.
• Hunter Smith ArchitecturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture firm led by Dana Hunter and Abbey Lau that skillfully led the Waterman Village design team through the complex process of combining historic rehabilitation with new construction.
• Long Historic Preservation ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitectural historian Amber Long provides expertise in balancing historic preservation with the need for safe, functional, and accessible spaces at the Waterman Village site.
• Buehner EngineeringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering firm led by Colin Blaney and Mike Smith responsible for structural planning and seismic retrofitting of Waterman Village buildings.
• Pacific Coast EcologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental consulting firm that conducted bat surveys at the Rosa Butron de Canet Adobe site as required by the City of San Luis Obispo for development permitting.
• Casita CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides informational resources, booklets, videos and legislative updates on ADUs shared through Smart Share's educational materials.
• American Tiny House AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing resources and standards for tiny house development referenced in Smart Share's THOW education materials.
• National Shared Housing Resource CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational resource center helping connect people with agencies that specialize in homesharing programs, providing Smart Share with best practices and referral resources.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Church Residences: Nonprofit developer and operator of senior affordable housing communities; directly comparable to Smart Share's Waterman Village senior housing project and senior-focused clientele.
• Grounded Solutions Network: National network of practitioners building inclusive affordable housing models including shared equity, ADUs, and community land trusts—comparable in focus on community-led affordable housing innovation.
• PATH (People Assisting the Homeless): California-based nonprofit addressing homelessness and affordable housing through supportive housing, interim housing, and community development—comparable mission and regional focus.
• Mercy Housing: Nonprofit affordable housing developer and operator serving low-income individuals and seniors; comparable in combining supportive housing, senior housing, and partnership-driven real estate development.
• Casita Coalition: Advocacy and education nonprofit focused on ADUs/casitas; directly comparable to Smart Share's ADU SLO program and already listed as a resource partner.
• Habitat for Humanity: National nonprofit focused on affordable homeownership, housing education, and community development—directly comparable in mission, volunteer-driven model, and community-led approach to expanding housing access.
• National Shared Housing Resource Center: National resource hub for homesharing programs—directly comparable to Smart Share's HomeShare SLO program and already a partner of the organization.

Emerging players

• PadSplit: For-profit co-living platform matching individual renters with spare rooms in host homes—comparable to Smart Share's HomeShare SLO matching concept but operating as a scaled, technology-enabled business model.

Regional players

• City of San Luis Obispo Housing Programs: Municipal housing programs and partners in SLO County working on ADU incentives, affordable housing development, and homelessness prevention—comparable regional affordable housing initiatives and a direct co-development partner on Waterman Village.

Broad incumbents

• Enterprise Community Partners: Large national nonprofit working on affordable housing, community development, and ADU/infill housing policy—comparable across all three of Smart Share's program areas but at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SmartShareHousingSolutions
• Facebookfacebook.com/SmartShareHousingSolutions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smart-share-housing-solutions-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/smartsharehousing

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SMART SHARE HOUSING SOLUTIONS INC