My name is Cyndi, and for the past several years, I've run a small short-term rental (Airbnb, Vrbo) business in my hometown of Bloomington, Indiana. When I first bought the house, I felt a bit guilty that it wouldn't be owner-occupied, especially given the severe shortage of affordable housing in our community.

This past winter, a person in our community had to have their foot amputated from frostbite because they didn't have a warm place to sleep. Hearing stories like this made it impossible for me to let my rental home sit empty much of the winter while there was such clear need right in front of me. My husband and I realized we could provide shelter for those in need, and we've been opening our doors ever since through a partnership with Hotels 4 Homeless (H4H).

H4H is currently operating without adequate funding while awaiting a potential grant. Regardless of its ability to cover expenses, I want to be able to continue to welcome guests at a moment's notice. My operating budget for a 2 bedroom, 1 bath home with a full kitchen and washer and dryer is around $60/night. But even when charging H4H a deeply discounted rate of $30/night, H4H still can't consistently pay for all the guests I have housed. And for comparison, local hotels charge H4H around $85/night for a standard room, and they won't accept a guest without pre-payment.

I have just been made aware of a mother with 2 small children who is no longer safe living with her partner. But this guest isn't a random stranger; she is a friend of a friend. H4H does not have the funds to house them, but I cannot possibly turn them away. So I will welcome them into my rental home this Friday, June 5.

Thank you for considering a donation or sharing this fundraiser. All funds raised will allow me to continue to offer this creative housing option, even when H4H can't reimburse me. All excess funds beyond the goal will be donated to H4H. Your support will help keep this vital resource available for families in crisis.