Host Homes: Frequently Asked Questions

Host Homes is an innovative approach to addressing our community’s housing crisis. By focusing our efforts on the needs of LGBTQ+ young adults (18-24), we aim to provide them with safe places to live in San Francisco. Host Homes staff work diligently to ensure that matches between hosts and guests are made based on aligned values, interests, and lifestyles.Hosts and guests are provided a number of supports from the SF LGBT Center, including training, regular check-ins, and stipends based on need and availability. Our goal is to house 10-15 youth in San Francisco for 3-12 months while providing case management that leads to stable housing.

Host Homes staff will work diligently to ensure that matches between hosts and guests are made based on aligned values, interests, and lifestyles. Host Homes staff will use youth and host applications to find commonalities among the two, allow the individuals to meet, and then determine if they are the right fit. Our aim is to create pairings that are mutually beneficial both to the host and the guest.

Please see our matching process below:

Youth will work with their case manager to ensure youth have access to food. Youth will receive food stipends from the SF LGBT Center, apply to Cal Fresh, and be able to access local food banks.

Hosts can expect to receive the following support from the SF LGBT Center:

• A stipend may be available based on need and availability to support costs of an additional person in the home
• Home visits with their Guest and the Host Homes Coordinator to discuss the pairing and to work through any challenges that may arise
• Opportunities for community meetings to connect with other hosts to discuss questions, concerns, challenges, and rewards of working as a host

• Hosts are expected to provide a welcoming, stable, and secure living environment for Guests
• Hosts are expected to respect the rights, privacy, culture, and background of Guests, including their religious and political beliefs
• Hosts are not to engage in any relationships of sexual or romantic nature with their Guests or display behaviors that may be misleading or confusing
• Hosts should act as a model of the behaviors we ask Guests to display (for example being aware of their own substance use)

• Guests are expected to be respectful of the privacy, rules, routines, and beliefs of their Hosts
• Guests are not to engage in any substances in the home unless otherwise stated in Host-Guest contract
• Guests are not to smoke in host homes unless otherwise negotiated in the Host-Guest contract
• Guests are not to have any overnight visitors and are to identify day visitor policy with their Host in the Host-Guest contract unless otherwise negotiated in the Host-Guest contract

SF LGBT Center asks that hosts meet the following minimal requirements:

• Host has an extra bedroom or space that can be turned into a private bedroom
• Host provides guest with access to a kitchen in which to prepare meals and access to shared or private bathroom
• Host lives in San Francisco
• Host commits to hosting youth Guest for 3-12 months
• Host has verifiable renters/homeowners insurance
• Host completes screening and is approved by Host Homes staff
• Host completes an application, interview, and home visit
• Host attends a Host Homes training
• Host completes check-ins with the Host Homes Staff
• Host commits to providing a welcoming, safe, non-judgmental environment and to supporting the self-determined goals of guest

SF LGBT Center asks that guests meet the following minimal requirements:

• Guest is between 18-24 years old
• Guest is interested in short-term housing while creating a plan for self-sustaining, long-term housing
• Guest actively engages in Host Homes onboarding procedures including interview, TB test, and training
• Guest is approved and screened by Host Homes Staff
• Guest is interested in seeking employment or educational opportunities
• Guest participates in matching process with SF LGBT Center staff
• Guest engages in weekly case-management with the Case Manager
• Guest commits to no overnight guests and no substance use in the host home unless otherwise stated in their Host-Guest contract
• Guest commits to conducting themselves respectfully and thoughtfully, and to communicating openly and often with Host and SF LGBT Center staff

The SF LGBT Center is committed to the success of the Host-Guest relationship. SF LGBT staff has designed a program that will enable Host-Guest relationships to overall be positive ones. When conflict does arise, SF LGBT Center asks that both Hosts and Guests engage in direct and respectful conversation to come to a resolution. If additional support is needed, the Host Homes Coordinator is readily available to assist in conflict mediation and resolution.

In the case that all attempts at conflict resolution are made and the Host-Guest relationship continues to suffer, the SF LGBT Center will work to place a Guest in a new host home. Given that the Host Homes Program is voluntary, and that Hosts and Guests are entering into it on a voluntary basis, any party may end their participation at any time. In the event of an early end to program participation, we ask Hosts to give SF LGBT Center staff two weeks to work to identity another living situation for the Guest.

Case managers will work with youth to develop educational, vocational, and housing plans, which in addition to their temporary housing will support youth in securing permanent housing post-Host Homes. After exiting the host home, youth continue to work with Case Managers for up to six months.

Since Host Homes staff are not lawyers, we will not be able to provide legal advice for your individual renter’s needs. However, we will provide general information to support hosts in how to navigate conversations with landlords about a youth moving into their homes short term. We will also provide resources and referrals to outside renter’s rights services to support hosts in doing their own research prior to making a commitment to host a youth.