The Housing Resources Board (HRB) of Bainbridge Island announced that longtime islander Penny Lamping has joined the team to spearhead the HRB’s HomeShare program.

Lamping was a member of the HRB board for 11 years and has a long history of housing advocacy and service to the community.

The HomeShare program matches people who have space available in their homes with people seeking housing. Homeowners benefit from gaining extra income or help around the house, while those seeking housing find affordable costs.

HRB provides support by screening the applicants and matching them with local residents.

An increasing number of people have taken advantage of this service as the economy has declined.

“In particular, we need more home providers as the home seekers outnumber the available homes,” according to Phedra Elliott, Associate Director and former HomeShare contact and matchmaker.

HomeShare is funded by the city through Health, Housing and Human Services and the Housing Trust Fund. With home construction slowed to a halt, revenues to HTF are expected to disappear by the end of 2011. “We are busy looking for other funding sources and for ways to streamline the process of matching home providers with seekers,” said Ken Balizer, HRB Executive Director. “The lowest income families on the Island are served by HomeShare; they will be the ones most affected by proposed budget cuts.”