Room for everyone

One is a university student walking away from a checkered past along a path of redemption.

The other is a community college instructor with a penchant for Shakespeare, disc golf and tabletop gaming.

“You can have two polar opposites live together and it be wonderful,” University of Idaho elementary education student Paul Myers said Wednesday.

In 2023, Myers graduated from North Idaho College, where Geoff Carr works as a journalism adviser and communications instructor. Connected by Louisa Rogers, who runs the Center for New Directions on campus, the two became roommates when Myers found himself in desperate need of housing last fall.

“It was an emergency at that point,” Myers said. “Everything I found was a room for $800 — $800 was the cheapest one I had seen, and there was no way, even working as much as I was working."

At the start of the previous academic year, Carr said an announcement was made to staff members as they were welcomed back to campus.

“They mentioned that students are having difficulty finding housing, and if anyone had a room available to let them know,” he said.

Carr opened his home to a student in need that school year, but the student ended up dropping classes and moving out. He again offered up space when Rogers contacted him about Myers' circumstance.

“I never really saw myself as a landlord, but I do have an extra room,” Carr said.

“He opened his door up to a complete stranger,” Myers said.

The house was $149,000 in 2013 when Carr made the purchase. It's worth about three times that now. He leases the room to Myers for $400, which includes utilities.

“It’s just good to have someone around,” Carr said, adding that he is hoping Myers won't mind keeping an eye on his dog, Charlie, when he leaves for an upcoming school trip.

Myers said he's an animal person and loves the little dog.

"Charlie’s cool," Myers said. "She sleeps in my bed most of the time. I leave my door open for that reason.”

Rogers is a board member for HomeShare Kootenai County, a nonprofit that aims to increase housing availability and affordability in Kootenai County by connecting those seeking housing with those who have housing to spare.

She said Carr and Myers' story is a great example of the vision HomeShare has for Kootenai County.

"This a mutually beneficial arrangement — providing extra income for one party and affordable housing for the other," she said. "But more than that, look at this very unique friendship that has arisen because of home sharing."

Carr and Myers have become friends through this process, when Myers has time to hang out between taking a full load of classes, working at the Boys and Girls Club and volunteering as a math tutor.

"When I have time I’m always picking his brain about games," Myers said. "We even sat down and played a game and since then I’ve had no time.”

Rogers said she wants community members to hear this story and ask themselves if they could also open up a room in their house.

"Yes, they will get extra monthly income," she said. "But they might also gain friendship and community. And that is a really beautiful thing."

    Paul Myers, left, and Geoff Carr chat for a moment on their front porch Wednesday. Carr, a North Idaho College instructor, bought the house in 2013 and is now renting a room to Myers, a 2023 NIC grad and current University of Idaho student, after being connected by a mutual contact when Myers needed emergency housing.