Guide for Guests and Hosts

Guide for Hosts and Guests

In October 2022, M, a Greenham Common and disability rights activist, initiated the programme which boasts over 100 hosts in London and 150 nationwide. (Jan 24)

After over 5000 sheltered nights, in homes, spare rooms, sofas and floor space, gardens and driveways, the program has fostered friendships and connections among hosts and guests - primarily labour, civil, and climate activists.

Procedure for New Guests:

  1. Download the signal app if you can. This is a helpful task, but not essential! Install the Signal app for communication. Link for iPhoneLink for AndroidSignal User guide. 
  2. Join as a guest member, receive a membership number, & apply for shelter through the website. Please give us the telephone number which you use on signal, if possible.
  3. Personal details are well-protected. We follow our privacy policy and GDPR agreement. 
  4. You will be put into a relevant signal group for your stay, according to the month. Sometimes, if your booking is well in advance of your stay, you will be assigned to the month in progress, then put into the relevant month group later.
  5. Notify changes in plans as soon as possible by DM to Lupin, the person on duty, or in the monthly signal group. 
  6. Large accomodation groups of guests, joined by affinity or staying in the same place will often be allocated to a signal group for your affinity or hosted place. They will be assigned a “lead guest” or two. 
  7. We allocate in the week before your stay. Some longer term guests and guests with higher physical needs will be informed earlier.
  8. We contact you with the phone number and postcode of your host.
  9. You call the host and ask three open questions; 1. Bedding? Shared food/ shared kitchen? 3. House Rules?
  10. Remember to direct hosts to us if they need any recompense for their expenses. No money is meant to change hands between host and guest or vice versa,

Feedback and Communication:

  • Share feedback about the stay.
  • Hosts and guests are encouraged to participate in the commUnityHome community, longterm.

Procedure for New Hosts:

  1. Notify your landlord and/or insurance provider.
  2. Fill in the new host registration form on the website,
  3. Install the Signal app for communication. Link for iPhoneLink for AndroidSignal User guide.
  4. Provide personal details knowing that commUnityHome uses a well-protected process. We follow our privacy policy and GDPR agreement. 
  5. Once registered you can update your hosting preferences such as availability or maximum stay duration via the host ‘portal’.
  6. We will ask you if you’d like to join a general host solidarity group (on signal), a local affinity group (eg. for Brixton hosts on WhatsApp), or create your own affinity group (eg. We need a hosting affinity group for hosts who can host disabled, or rest and recuparation guest, or for Basildon/ Basingstoke hosts, for example) 
  7. Receive descriptions of potential guests before accepting.
  8. Facilitate communication about your own home; shared food, provided bedding and house rules.
  9. Keep communication with guests verbal for safety and ask that guests reapply for shelter through the website, even when they make friends, and self organise in future.
  10. Give feedback after the guest's stay.