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July 11, 2024
AT A GLANCE
- Sparrow is a homesharing platform that provides renters with affordable living options and an additional source of income for homeowners.
- The platform matches individuals who have extra space in their home with people seeking an affordable place to live.
- Thanks to this innovative housing solution, Precious and Swartika were able to find a mutually beneficial living arrangement.
When Precious Kamanga arrived in Vancouver, she quickly learned why it is known as one of Canada’s least affordable cities. Arriving in Canada to study for a master's program at University Canada West, her first accommodation was in a student housing facility. It did not meet her needs.
“I wasn’t comfortable there and for the size of the living space it was very expensive.”
She decided to look for another solution but finding adequate and affordable housing proved to be difficult. She tried multiple platforms and encountered different forms of discrimination.
“I was stressed out,” says Precious. “I've never experienced stress in my life, but at that time I was stressed.”
We know we need to build more housing supply…We are coming at it from a complementary angle. We are asking ourselves how we might better utilize our existing supply.
When she came across the Sparrow homesharing platform it piqued her interest. She liked that Sparrow considered her living preferences, matching her with a host she was compatible with. She also liked Sparrow’s safe and welcoming environment (all hosts are screened and verified before their home is listed) and the fact that they foster diversity and inclusion.
Sparrow reviewed the information Precious provided and matched her with Swartika Deo who lives in Surrey with her husband and daughter.
Sparrow’s Concept
- Sparrow is an innovative homesharing platform that leverages underused residential spaces across Canada to unlock empty bedrooms for rentals.
- The company aims to reduce 2 parallel crises — housing affordability and loneliness.
- Currently operating in Greater Vancouver and Greater Toronto areas, the company has now made more than 500 homesharing matches.
In the face of the housing affordability crisis and supply shortage, Oren Singer, co-founder and CEO at Sparrow says: “We need to consider alternative approaches to help people find homes.”
“We know we need to build more housing supply,” says Oren. “And there are amazing initiatives working towards new builds. We are coming at it from a complementary angle. We are asking ourselves how we might better utilize our existing supply.”
There are an estimated 12 million empty bedrooms across Canada. Oren says unlocking even a fraction of these underused rooms helps to rapidly increase housing supply—and should be part of the solution to close the supply gap by 2030.
Social Benefits
The benefits of homesharing go beyond affordable living. It can provide companionship and reduce social isolation. According to Sparrow, 2 out of 5 young Canadians are experiencing considerable isolation.
In some situations, home sharing can also support seniors who wish to stay in their homes longer but could use some help around the house.
Precious has been living with Swartika for almost a year now and has come to feel like part of the family.
“I see her as my mother because she's become a big part of my life that I didn't expect. I know that I'm safe with her. I'm safe in her home.”
She says that living with Swartika’s family has also had a major impact on her studies.
“They do everything to support me. Whether it's for my school, work, whatever I need, they provide it for me. So, my schoolwork has been absolutely great!”
According to Precious, it’s important, especially for students, to have a stable and permanent housing arrangement where they can prosper.
For Swartika, Precious is like another daughter. At Christmas, she will buy a gift for her husband, one for her daughter and she will also buy a gift for Precious.
Precious is the third student that Swartika and her family have shared a home with, through Sparrow.
“If you are good with someone, they will be good with you,” she says. Adding, “my student is unbelievable.”
It’s important for Swartika to make her students feel at home. She cooks for them, drives them to school. She even helped Precious to find 2 jobs. She is truly there as a support system as she knows that her parents are far away.
“Not only am I helping her, but she is helping me too,” Swartika says.
Recently, Swartika’s husband went through a kidney transplant. She says Precious has helped a lot around the house and is also great company for her husband. She likes having someone else at home with him when she is working.
A life changing experience
Swartika is juggling multiple jobs to keep up with medical bills and home related expenses. Renting her empty bedrooms through Sparrow has provided financial relief, and she describes the experience overall as life changing.
Thanks to her positive homesharing experience with her host family, Precious plans to stay in Canada when she finishes her studies in October.
“As long as I'm in British Columbia, this is home for me.”
KEY FACTS
- The federal government through CMHC was pleased to support Sparrow through the National Housing Strategy’s Demonstrations Initiative.
- Through a unique private/public partnership, CMHC and Accenture each provided funding to bring the Sparrow concept to market.
