Anyone is welcome to stop by during the open office hours and meet with staff or a volunteer

ATASCADERO — In an effort to provide easier access to their programs, Smart Share Housing Solutions (SSHS) has established open office hours in Atascadero at Eikhof Design Group (4875 El Camino Real) every Wednesday from 4 to 6 p.m. Anyone is welcome to stop by during the open office hours and meet with staff or a volunteer. SSHS also has monthly coffee chats at its Demo Cottage at 466 Dana St. in San Luis Obispo on the second Wednesday of each month from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Deputy Director Vicki van den Eikhof said, “Someone might be thinking about entering into a homeshare and want to get to know potential housemates before inviting them to visit their home. Or maybe someone has questions about building an ADU in their backyard, or about our Waterman Village development in San Luis Obispo. Sometimes people need to meet face-to-face. These office hours are intended to provide that opportunity.” 

As a local nonprofit, SSHS (a San Luis Obispo County nonprofit corporation) thinks outside the box about how to make best use of existing infrastructure and buildings.

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“Our goal is systems change as well as direct service provision,” said Executive Director Anne Wyatt. “It can take years to see the results of efforts at systems change; it’s not as simple as counting the number of clients we’ve helped.” 

Smart Share started in 2017 with just one program: HomeShare SLO. Today, the organization boasts three programs that work to address housing at all levels: 

  • HomeShareSLO — Facilitates matches between those with an extra room and those looking for affordable housing, providing mutually beneficial housing and companionship.
  • ADU SLO — Assists property owners on the logistics of adding housing units using backyards, garages, infill lots, and existing buildings.
  • Co-Living Collaborative — Develops shared housing projects, including the Waterman Village, a neighborhood of 20 affordable small homes surrounding a historic adobe in downtown San Luis Obispo, now in development.

Smart Share’s mission is to connect people and homes —today and tomorrow. You can visit the website to learn more at smartsharehousingsolutions.org.