Co-living with Compassion — A New Way to Think About Housing

Ralph Pombo · 2026-05-27T13:27:00-07:00

What if a co-living home could do more than house people? Most people think of co-living as young professionals sharing a modern apartment. But there's a largely untapped opportunity sitting right in front of us — using co-living homes to serve people who need a warm, stable, affordable place to land during one of the hardest moments of their life. We're calling it Co-living with Compassion. Here's what that looks like in real life: A mother flies in from out of state because her 9-year-old was just diagnosed with leukemia. The hospital is excellent. The hotels nearby are $180 a night. She needs to stay for six weeks. A Co-living with Compassion home gives her a private room, a shared kitchen, and people around her who understand why she's there. A man finishes 30 days of rehab. He's clean, he's motivated, but he can't go back to his old apartment and his old circle. He needs 30 days of stable, sober, supported living before he can stand on his own. A Co-living with Compassion home gives him that bridge. A family loses everything in a house fire on a Tuesday night. The insurance company needs two weeks to sort out temporary housing. A Co-living with Compassion home takes them in Wednesday morning. This isn't charity. This is compassion with a structure behind it. These homes are run by real investors who believe that doing good and doing well aren't mutually exclusive. Pricing is fair — below a hotel, above a shelter — because the people staying there deserve dignity, not just a roof. We'll be honest with you — this may not be the highest returning property in your portfolio. The margins are real but modest. But here's what else is real: your community will know what you did. Your neighbors will remember. The mother who stayed in your home while her daughter fought cancer will never forget your name. There are forms of return that don't show up on a spreadsheet, and this is one of them. The concept is early. We're still shaping it. And that's exactly why I'm here asking for your help. 👉 Have you ever been in a situation where a place like this would have helped you or someone you love? 👉 Do you run, invest in, or manage co-living properties and see an opportunity here? 👉 Do you work in healthcare, social services, disaster relief, or recovery — and see a need this could fill? Drop your story, your thoughts, or even your skepticism in the comments. Every perspective helps build something better. Let's figure this out together. #ColivingWithCompassion #Coliving #AffordableHousing #CompassionateHousing #RealEstateInvesting #HousingInnovation

Janice Carter

Real Estate Broker · Atlanta · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 604 votes

3mo

@Ralph Pombo This is a powerful concept because it addresses a real gap between expensive short term housing and unstable alternatives. I especially like that you are framing this as structured, dignified housing and not charity. There is definitely a need for this among seniors, families in medical crisis, people transitioning from rehab and even displaced tenants after fires or evictions. The key to making this successful long term will be strong screening, clear house rules, community partnerships and operators who genuinely care about both the residents and the sustainability of the model. Compassion works best when the system behind it is solid.

2 Reply

Ralph Pombo
OP
Member since 2020 · 101 posts · 34 votes
3mo
Quote from @Janice Carter:

@Ralph Pombo This is a powerful concept because it addresses a real gap between expensive short term housing and unstable alternatives. I especially like that you are framing this as structured, dignified housing and not charity. There is definitely a need for this among seniors, families in medical crisis, people transitioning from rehab and even displaced tenants after fires or evictions. The key to making this successful long term will be strong screening, clear house rules, community partnerships and operators who genuinely care about both the residents and the sustainability of the model. Compassion works best when the system behind it is solid.

Yes, you are touching on the main point that I was attempting to make. We can network and solve these problems with others in the community. Without that network, how would anyone know that it is available to them, or their families. We have the resources and need to get the word out. Thank you so much for your comment.
0 Reply

Bruce WoodruffPro Member

Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes

3mo

It is a very noble endeavor! I admire that.... But you need to bear in mind (constantly) that you're running a business, regardless of how altruistic it may be. You (as the owner/investor) need to make enough profit to keep your family at least somewhat prosperous, and you need to pay your staff, and your investors. Otherwise this business model will fail - and fail quickly - because you will be running with tighter profit margins than a normal business.

You need solid rules and a solid budget model, and you need to stick to them regardless of the sob story you may hear - and many of these stories will be bogus, as I'm sure you know.

But yeah, even my skeptical self likes this idea, I just think that it will be very hard to run successfully. But best of luck, I would be a supporter...

1 Reply

Ralph Pombo
OP
Member since 2020 · 101 posts · 34 votes
3mo
Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

It is a very noble endeavor! I admire that.... But you need to bear in mind (constantly) that you're running a business, regardless of how altruistic it may be. You (as the owner/investor) need to make enough profit to keep your family at least somewhat prosperous, and you need to pay your staff, and your investors. Otherwise this business model will fail - and fail quickly - because you will be running with tighter profit margins than a normal business.
You need solid rules and a solid budget model, and you need to stick to them regardless of the sob story you may hear - and many of these stories will be bogus, as I'm sure you know.
But yeah, even my skeptical self likes this idea, I just think that it will be very hard to run successfully. But best of luck, I would be a supporter...
Absolutely correct. As I mentioned in the original post, this kind of housing should never be viewed purely through the lens of profit. If you choose to open your doors to people going through some of the hardest moments of their lives — expectant mothers, abuse survivors, displaced families, troubled youth — you have to do it because you genuinely care about people.
This is far more of a mission than a business model. The greatest challenge is building something that is both compassionate and sustainable enough to survive long term. Keeping the lights on while still leading with empathy is a very delicate balance.
Some of these residents may help fill vacancies when needed, while others may require far more support than they can ever financially return. That’s simply the reality of this kind of work. In the end, this is a personal commitment to humanity first, and a financial venture second.

0 Reply
Bruce WoodruffPro Member
Contractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
3mo
Quote from @Ralph Pombo:

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

It is a very noble endeavor! I admire that.... But you need to bear in mind (constantly) that you're running a business, regardless of how altruistic it may be. You (as the owner/investor) need to make enough profit to keep your family at least somewhat prosperous, and you need to pay your staff, and your investors. Otherwise this business model will fail - and fail quickly - because you will be running with tighter profit margins than a normal business.
You need solid rules and a solid budget model, and you need to stick to them regardless of the sob story you may hear - and many of these stories will be bogus, as I'm sure you know.
But yeah, even my skeptical self likes this idea, I just think that it will be very hard to run successfully. But best of luck, I would be a supporter...
Absolutely correct. As I mentioned in the original post, this kind of housing should never be viewed purely through the lens of profit. If you choose to open your doors to people going through some of the hardest moments of their lives — expectant mothers, abuse survivors, displaced families, troubled youth — you have to do it because you genuinely care about people.
This is far more of a mission than a business model. The greatest challenge is building something that is both compassionate and sustainable enough to survive long term. Keeping the lights on while still leading with empathy is a very delicate balance.
Some of these residents may help fill vacancies when needed, while others may require far more support than they can ever financially return. That’s simply the reality of this kind of work. In the end, this is a personal commitment to humanity first, and a financial venture second.

"this is a personal commitment to humanity first, and a financial venture second"

And I will say (nicely) that that is ***-backwards, and if you go into this with that attitude, your odds of failure go way up. On this forum, we have see many altruistic do-gooders come and go. As I like to say, are you running a business or a charity?

Figure that out #1.....because if you start with a weak business model that focuses primarily on the welfare of your clients, you eventually will leave them all right back where they started...and that would be simply mean on your part. You need to make a decent income, along with your staff and investors. It's like on the airlines where they say "put the mask on yourself first, then attend to others". It just makes sense. Think about it......

Treat this as a business first, one that is based on a strong secondary goal of helping those less fortunate.....

Just my $.02

0 Reply
Ralph Pombo
OP
Member since 2020 · 101 posts · 34 votes
3mo
Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @Ralph Pombo:

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

It is a very noble endeavor! I admire that.... But you need to bear in mind (constantly) that you're running a business, regardless of how altruistic it may be. You (as the owner/investor) need to make enough profit to keep your family at least somewhat prosperous, and you need to pay your staff, and your investors. Otherwise this business model will fail - and fail quickly - because you will be running with tighter profit margins than a normal business.
You need solid rules and a solid budget model, and you need to stick to them regardless of the sob story you may hear - and many of these stories will be bogus, as I'm sure you know.
But yeah, even my skeptical self likes this idea, I just think that it will be very hard to run successfully. But best of luck, I would be a supporter...
Absolutely correct. As I mentioned in the original post, this kind of housing should never be viewed purely through the lens of profit. If you choose to open your doors to people going through some of the hardest moments of their lives — expectant mothers, abuse survivors, displaced families, troubled youth — you have to do it because you genuinely care about people.
This is far more of a mission than a business model. The greatest challenge is building something that is both compassionate and sustainable enough to survive long term. Keeping the lights on while still leading with empathy is a very delicate balance.
Some of these residents may help fill vacancies when needed, while others may require far more support than they can ever financially return. That’s simply the reality of this kind of work. In the end, this is a personal commitment to humanity first, and a financial venture second.

"this is a personal commitment to humanity first, and a financial venture second"

And I will say (nicely) that that is ***-backwards, and if you go into this with that attitude, your odds of failure go way up. On this forum, we have see many altruistic do-gooders come and go. As I like to say, are you running a business or a charity?

Figure that out #1.....because if you start with a weak business model that focuses primarily on the welfare of your clients, you eventually will leave them all right back where they started...and that would be simply mean on your part. You need to make a decent income, along with your staff and investors. It's like on the airlines where they say "put the mask on yourself first, then attend to others". It just makes sense. Think about it......

Treat this as a business first, one that is based on a strong secondary goal of helping those less fortunate.....

Just my $.02

I completely understand your position. I currently have buy/holds, fix/flips, 3 MTRs, and many acres of vacant land. I have owned and operated many businesses, so maybe I am looking at this in a more charitable fashion. This would not be the first choice for your MTR goals. This needs to be a second, third, or fourth venture where the profit is not the driving force.
That said, my intentions are to simply mention these possibilities as another guest type that can be considered. if the financing can be attained, such as Federal, state, city, or non-profit sponsors, then many of the issues will lessen. Thanks again for the comment.
1 Reply
Dan H.Pro Member
Investor · Poway, CA · Member since 2015 · 7k+ posts · 8k+ votes
3mo
Quote from @Ralph Pombo:

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @Ralph Pombo:

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

It is a very noble endeavor! I admire that.... But you need to bear in mind (constantly) that you're running a business, regardless of how altruistic it may be. You (as the owner/investor) need to make enough profit to keep your family at least somewhat prosperous, and you need to pay your staff, and your investors. Otherwise this business model will fail - and fail quickly - because you will be running with tighter profit margins than a normal business.
You need solid rules and a solid budget model, and you need to stick to them regardless of the sob story you may hear - and many of these stories will be bogus, as I'm sure you know.
But yeah, even my skeptical self likes this idea, I just think that it will be very hard to run successfully. But best of luck, I would be a supporter...
Absolutely correct. As I mentioned in the original post, this kind of housing should never be viewed purely through the lens of profit. If you choose to open your doors to people going through some of the hardest moments of their lives — expectant mothers, abuse survivors, displaced families, troubled youth — you have to do it because you genuinely care about people.
This is far more of a mission than a business model. The greatest challenge is building something that is both compassionate and sustainable enough to survive long term. Keeping the lights on while still leading with empathy is a very delicate balance.
Some of these residents may help fill vacancies when needed, while others may require far more support than they can ever financially return. That’s simply the reality of this kind of work. In the end, this is a personal commitment to humanity first, and a financial venture second.

"this is a personal commitment to humanity first, and a financial venture second"

And I will say (nicely) that that is ***-backwards, and if you go into this with that attitude, your odds of failure go way up. On this forum, we have see many altruistic do-gooders come and go. As I like to say, are you running a business or a charity?

Figure that out #1.....because if you start with a weak business model that focuses primarily on the welfare of your clients, you eventually will leave them all right back where they started...and that would be simply mean on your part. You need to make a decent income, along with your staff and investors. It's like on the airlines where they say "put the mask on yourself first, then attend to others". It just makes sense. Think about it......

Treat this as a business first, one that is based on a strong secondary goal of helping those less fortunate.....

Just my $.02

I completely understand your position. I currently have buy/holds, fix/flips, 3 MTRs, and many acres of vacant land. I have owned and operated many businesses, so maybe I am looking at this in a more charitable fashion. This would not be the first choice for your MTR goals. This needs to be a second, third, or fourth venture where the profit is not the driving force.
That said, my intentions are to simply mention these possibilities as another guest type that can be considered. if the financing can be attained, such as Federal, state, city, or non-profit sponsors, then many of the issues will lessen. Thanks again for the comment.

Does this mean you currently do not offer any of your units as “Co-living with Compassion” units? If you have any ”Co-living with Compassion” units, how many do you have? Note it is easy to ask others to be generous, it is more challenging to be generous.

When the fires devastated Los Angeles, we offered our furnished units in San Diego to fire victims at a substantial discount (40% off the OTA price booked via direct booking so the discount from the perspective of income received was less than 40%) for existing vacancies. No one took us up on the offer. I think 1) we were a little far from the fire victims 2) due to existing guest bookings, the availability was piecemeal. 3) even at 40% discount, there is cheaper lodging options because our units are near the beach and not inexpensive. I was surprised no one made use of the offer but did think is would have limited appeal (but not zero appeal).
I suspect at the price offered to the fire victims, our units would have negative cash flow if this rate was the rate, multiplied by our occupancy. This was an attempt to help those in need without a huge negative cash flow.
Note doing the 24/7 would be a charity. I suspect it would lose money consistently. If there is another event like the fires, we will likely offer a 50% discount to those impacted. I suspect it would still have limited appeal because 1) the piecemeal created from existing bookings 2) there likely is still cheaper options available.
We recently had a co-host discuss a swap of STR usage. I instead offered him 50% off the OTA price. He initially accepted but ended up cancelling to stay elsewhere. I am sure the place he stayed was not 100' from the beach but was cheaper for his family.
By the way, the last 3 years we have given away more money than what we earned. This year we will also give away more than we earn.
Best wishes
1 Reply
Ralph Pombo
OP
Member since 2020 · 101 posts · 34 votes
3mo
Quote from @Dan H.:

Quote from @Ralph Pombo:

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @Ralph Pombo:

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

It is a very noble endeavor! I admire that.... But you need to bear in mind (constantly) that you're running a business, regardless of how altruistic it may be. You (as the owner/investor) need to make enough profit to keep your family at least somewhat prosperous, and you need to pay your staff, and your investors. Otherwise this business model will fail - and fail quickly - because you will be running with tighter profit margins than a normal business.
You need solid rules and a solid budget model, and you need to stick to them regardless of the sob story you may hear - and many of these stories will be bogus, as I'm sure you know.
But yeah, even my skeptical self likes this idea, I just think that it will be very hard to run successfully. But best of luck, I would be a supporter...
Absolutely correct. As I mentioned in the original post, this kind of housing should never be viewed purely through the lens of profit. If you choose to open your doors to people going through some of the hardest moments of their lives — expectant mothers, abuse survivors, displaced families, troubled youth — you have to do it because you genuinely care about people.
This is far more of a mission than a business model. The greatest challenge is building something that is both compassionate and sustainable enough to survive long term. Keeping the lights on while still leading with empathy is a very delicate balance.
Some of these residents may help fill vacancies when needed, while others may require far more support than they can ever financially return. That’s simply the reality of this kind of work. In the end, this is a personal commitment to humanity first, and a financial venture second.

"this is a personal commitment to humanity first, and a financial venture second"

And I will say (nicely) that that is ***-backwards, and if you go into this with that attitude, your odds of failure go way up. On this forum, we have see many altruistic do-gooders come and go. As I like to say, are you running a business or a charity?

Figure that out #1.....because if you start with a weak business model that focuses primarily on the welfare of your clients, you eventually will leave them all right back where they started...and that would be simply mean on your part. You need to make a decent income, along with your staff and investors. It's like on the airlines where they say "put the mask on yourself first, then attend to others". It just makes sense. Think about it......

Treat this as a business first, one that is based on a strong secondary goal of helping those less fortunate.....

Just my $.02

I completely understand your position. I currently have buy/holds, fix/flips, 3 MTRs, and many acres of vacant land. I have owned and operated many businesses, so maybe I am looking at this in a more charitable fashion. This would not be the first choice for your MTR goals. This needs to be a second, third, or fourth venture where the profit is not the driving force.
That said, my intentions are to simply mention these possibilities as another guest type that can be considered. if the financing can be attained, such as Federal, state, city, or non-profit sponsors, then many of the issues will lessen. Thanks again for the comment.

Does this mean you currently do not offer any of your units as “Co-living with Compassion” units? If you have any ”Co-living with Compassion” units, how many do you have? Note it is easy to ask others to be generous, it is more challenging to be generous.

When the fires devastated Los Angeles, we offered our furnished units in San Diego to fire victims at a substantial discount (40% off the OTA price booked via direct booking so the discount from the perspective of income received was less than 40%) for existing vacancies. No one took us up on the offer. I think 1) we were a little far from the fire victims 2) due to existing guest bookings, the availability was piecemeal. 3) even at 40% discount, there is cheaper lodging options because our units are near the beach and not inexpensive. I was surprised no one made use of the offer but did think is would have limited appeal (but not zero appeal).
I suspect at the price offered to the fire victims, our units would have negative cash flow if this rate was the rate, multiplied by our occupancy. This was an attempt to help those in need without a huge negative cash flow.
Note doing the 24/7 would be a charity. I suspect it would lose money consistently. If there is another event like the fires, we will likely offer a 50% discount to those impacted. I suspect it would still have limited appeal because 1) the piecemeal created from existing bookings 2) there likely is still cheaper options available.
We recently had a co-host discuss a swap of STR usage. I instead offered him 50% off the OTA price. He initially accepted but ended up cancelling to stay elsewhere. I am sure the place he stayed was not 100' from the beach but was cheaper for his family.
By the way, the last 3 years we have given away more money than what we earned. This year we will also give away more than we earn.
Best wishes

I appreciate the thoughtful response and the real-world example. To me, your experience actually helps explain the point I am trying to make with co-living with compassion. It has to be sustainable. If the property owner loses money consistently, it simply will not survive long term.
I am not suggesting that anyone operate at a loss or become a charity unless they choose to. I am discussing the possibilities of creating housing models that both serve the community and make financial sense. There are many groups that fall into this category. People coming out of rehab, domestic abuse victims, cancer patients receiving outpatient treatment, pregnant teens with nowhere to go, teen runaways, people displaced by disasters, or families needing temporary housing near hospitals are all examples.
We currently operate one sober living home, although that only scratches the surface of what is possible. My article was intended more as a discussion of ideas and opportunities than a claim that every scenario is already being implemented at scale.
There are also many potential funding sources that can help bridge the gap including grants, churches, nonprofits, and federal, state, or local programs. Historically, many organizations and businesses have successfully operated housing connected to addiction recovery, transitional living, and other community-focused services while still remaining financially viable.
At the end of the day, I am also a businessman. I understand profit and loss very clearly. The discussion is simply about exploring ways property owners and operators might help meet real community needs while still operating responsibly and sustainably.
0 Reply
Ralph Pombo
OP
Member since 2020 · 101 posts · 34 votes
3mo
Quote from @Dan H.:

Quote from @Ralph Pombo:

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

Quote from @Ralph Pombo:

Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

It is a very noble endeavor! I admire that.... But you need to bear in mind (constantly) that you're running a business, regardless of how altruistic it may be. You (as the owner/investor) need to make enough profit to keep your family at least somewhat prosperous, and you need to pay your staff, and your investors. Otherwise this business model will fail - and fail quickly - because you will be running with tighter profit margins than a normal business.
You need solid rules and a solid budget model, and you need to stick to them regardless of the sob story you may hear - and many of these stories will be bogus, as I'm sure you know.
But yeah, even my skeptical self likes this idea, I just think that it will be very hard to run successfully. But best of luck, I would be a supporter...
Absolutely correct. As I mentioned in the original post, this kind of housing should never be viewed purely through the lens of profit. If you choose to open your doors to people going through some of the hardest moments of their lives — expectant mothers, abuse survivors, displaced families, troubled youth — you have to do it because you genuinely care about people.
This is far more of a mission than a business model. The greatest challenge is building something that is both compassionate and sustainable enough to survive long term. Keeping the lights on while still leading with empathy is a very delicate balance.
Some of these residents may help fill vacancies when needed, while others may require far more support than they can ever financially return. That’s simply the reality of this kind of work. In the end, this is a personal commitment to humanity first, and a financial venture second.

"this is a personal commitment to humanity first, and a financial venture second"

And I will say (nicely) that that is ***-backwards, and if you go into this with that attitude, your odds of failure go way up. On this forum, we have see many altruistic do-gooders come and go. As I like to say, are you running a business or a charity?

Figure that out #1.....because if you start with a weak business model that focuses primarily on the welfare of your clients, you eventually will leave them all right back where they started...and that would be simply mean on your part. You need to make a decent income, along with your staff and investors. It's like on the airlines where they say "put the mask on yourself first, then attend to others". It just makes sense. Think about it......

Treat this as a business first, one that is based on a strong secondary goal of helping those less fortunate.....

Just my $.02

I completely understand your position. I currently have buy/holds, fix/flips, 3 MTRs, and many acres of vacant land. I have owned and operated many businesses, so maybe I am looking at this in a more charitable fashion. This would not be the first choice for your MTR goals. This needs to be a second, third, or fourth venture where the profit is not the driving force.
That said, my intentions are to simply mention these possibilities as another guest type that can be considered. if the financing can be attained, such as Federal, state, city, or non-profit sponsors, then many of the issues will lessen. Thanks again for the comment.

Does this mean you currently do not offer any of your units as “Co-living with Compassion” units? If you have any ”Co-living with Compassion” units, how many do you have? Note it is easy to ask others to be generous, it is more challenging to be generous.

When the fires devastated Los Angeles, we offered our furnished units in San Diego to fire victims at a substantial discount (40% off the OTA price booked via direct booking so the discount from the perspective of income received was less than 40%) for existing vacancies. No one took us up on the offer. I think 1) we were a little far from the fire victims 2) due to existing guest bookings, the availability was piecemeal. 3) even at 40% discount, there is cheaper lodging options because our units are near the beach and not inexpensive. I was surprised no one made use of the offer but did think is would have limited appeal (but not zero appeal).
I suspect at the price offered to the fire victims, our units would have negative cash flow if this rate was the rate, multiplied by our occupancy. This was an attempt to help those in need without a huge negative cash flow.
Note doing the 24/7 would be a charity. I suspect it would lose money consistently. If there is another event like the fires, we will likely offer a 50% discount to those impacted. I suspect it would still have limited appeal because 1) the piecemeal created from existing bookings 2) there likely is still cheaper options available.
We recently had a co-host discuss a swap of STR usage. I instead offered him 50% off the OTA price. He initially accepted but ended up cancelling to stay elsewhere. I am sure the place he stayed was not 100' from the beach but was cheaper for his family.
By the way, the last 3 years we have given away more money than what we earned. This year we will also give away more than we earn.
Best wishes

I also want to emphasize that this is not about pressuring anyone to participate in something they are uncomfortable with. It is simply a conversation about possibilities and examples that may benefit both communities and housing providers.
I would actually welcome more input from others who have experimented with creative housing models, temporary housing programs, sober living, transitional housing, or partnerships with nonprofits and churches. There are probably many approaches that work better in certain markets than others.
The goal of the discussion is to exchange ideas, learn from real experiences, and explore what is realistically sustainable. Sometimes even small efforts can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life while also creating valuable community relationships and long-term business opportunities.

0 Reply

Richard F.

Honolulu, HI · Member since 2008 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes

3mo

With all of that in mind, intentionally set it up from the start as an IRS 501 c Non-Profit organization. Separate from your other "investment" properties and personal home.

1 Reply

Josh C.Pro Member

Property Manager · Indianapolis, IN · Member since 2010 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes

3mo

Do you have men and women staying in the same house? Seems like a big liability if so

0 Reply

Ralph Pombo
OP
Member since 2020 · 101 posts · 34 votes
3mo
Quote from @Josh C.:

Do you have men and women staying in the same house? Seems like a big liability if so
I only have one home that fits this category so far and that is a sober living for women only. This is more of a discussion regarding the home category of Compassion Based Housing. It is an overall look into this category and what others have observed.
0 Reply

Richard F.

Honolulu, HI · Member since 2008 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes

3mo

You might take a look at a Hawaii housing "solution". Clearly it might be more difficult to execute in Northern areas, but it's something to check out.

K auhale

Kahauiki village

1 Reply

Ralph Pombo
OP
Member since 2020 · 101 posts · 34 votes
3mo
Quote from @Richard F.:

You might take a look at a Hawaii housing "solution". Clearly it might be more difficult to execute in Northern areas, but it's something to check out.
K auhale
Kahauiki village
Great information! My intent was not to solve homelessness, but to provide a very temporary need as a transition. This is a very noble challenge to take on, but it is not really the guest type that I was including in Compassion Based Co-Living. It definitely has a need and a purpose connected to it and I commend anyone that chooses this path.
0 Reply

Nadra OstromPro Member

Investor · Los Angeles County · Member since 2025 · 9 posts · 3 votes

2mo

I like the sentiment of what you're saying and it's a good conversation to have. I think if I were a wildly successful investor and had what I needed to live, I would consider something like this. I'm not there yet but I appreciate you planted this seed in my mind.

There are lots of things to think through and a lot of what ifs, but l would like to see more conversation and models of this

0 Reply

Colleen F.Pro Member

Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes

2mo

@Ralph Pombo I think one of the things to consider in this is having a singular mission for a location makes it a better model a sober living home or close to hospital treatment housing are separate missions. Some missions don't mix. If you have mom of cancer patient and one of the sober patients relapses, is that going to work? Even if they don't is cancer mom even going to want to share with the newly sober when she is under stress. On the family impacted by fire I don't think insurance covers co-living. So its a mission for sure and a good one. I think if we had a lot more boarding houses there were places for people in transition like this but that isn't something most towns even want.

1 Reply

Ralph Pombo
OP
Member since 2020 · 101 posts · 34 votes
2mo
Quote from @Colleen F.:

@Ralph Pombo I think one of the things to consider in this is having a singular mission for a location makes it a better model a sober living home or close to hospital treatment housing are separate missions. Some missions don't mix. If you have mom of cancer patient and one of the sober patients relapses, is that going to work? Even if they don't is cancer mom even going to want to share with the newly sober when she is under stress. On the family impacted by fire I don't think insurance covers co-living. So its a mission for sure and a good one. I think if we had a lot more boarding houses there were places for people in transition like this but that isn't something most towns even want.

I am sorry. I did not mean for this to sound like all of the different guest types are being housed in the same home at the same time. These are options. How an operator runs their own home will depend on where they are located and if the market needs exist. Thank you for your comment.
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Colleen F.Pro Member

Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes

2mo

@Ralph Pombo Sorry I misinterperted it to be a single home. For cancer patients/family there are hosting organizations and foundations that do help with this kind of housing. For hosting it can be volunteering to make a room in your home available but may be other options. Best bet is to find a foundation who does this and connect with them on need. I am not sure how reimbursement would work. We looked into hosting not as a business but personally. It really is a question of how close the location is to the bigger hospitals and a nominal amount is offered. As a living environment its draining.

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Tyler FoshePro Member

Rental Property Investor · Los Angeles Area · Member since 2021 · 58 posts · 23 votes

2mo

I think this is a great idea and it should work for experienced property managers and operators like you who have relevant experience in managing housing for disadvantaged communities. I suspect that experience in working with these types of people will be just as critical as experience managing rental properties. Our city has successfully operated a small community of tiny homes for our unhoused population and one major success factor is they provide on-site security and support services like addiction counseling. Something like this would be invaluable for your model to increase the odds of success. Maybe the property managers could help orchestrate support services for residents with various agencies. I am a new landlord with just one door but with more experience and a larger portfolio this is definitely something I would consider. Good luck!

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Co-living with Compassion — A New Way to Think About Housing

Co-living with Compassion — A New Way to Think About Housing

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