Submitted by Alan Colley, Host2Host Past President & Newsletter Editor

Dear Members of Host2Host and Hosts Everywhere

As the new year dawns with all its potential, it occurs to me that it may be a good time not only to consider how we can reinvigorate our own properties for our guests, but also to embrace our neighbors in that invigoration. Here are some thoughts.

As a community of hosts we are doing a pretty good job of gathering and building our own community. We have learned to support each other as we all have navigated this pandemic. While we have been prone to saying “We’re all in this together”, we can often forget that our neighbors are likely struggling too. How can we then begin to reach out to them? 

Here are some good tips from Matt Landau, founder of VRMB to get us started. I quote them here to prompt our own conversation.

“Across the research and interviews, it became obvious that all successful regulation starts at home and it starts with... being a good neighbor to others in their neighborhood.

• “Being a good neighbor means spending more time on your porch, front yard, or hallway, taking neighborhood walks, introducing yourself, helping fix things that affect you (like broken fences or overgrown weeds) by inventing your own hair-brained solutions some of which will work and some of which won’t. Being a good neighbor means trying...

• “Being a good neighbor means listening to neighbors, asking open questions, saying hello when you pass in the street, or calling to check in regularly if you live somewhere else.

• “Being a good neighbor means chipping in where you can, ... and leaving the place better than you found it.”

With all the horrific events that took place on January 6, our actions now count even more. The need to care about and for each other, and to renew our commitment to our social contract is more crucial than ever. John Paul Lederach, Professor Emeritus at the University of Notre Dame statement is particularly poignant:

“Act on and walk into what you know to be true. Start local. Reach out beyond your comfort zone. Commit to nonviolence. Always protect the dignity of others. Walk together.”

You may not be able or ready to take on all these suggestions, but just opening up to the possibilities you can take action on, could be beneficial.

Whatever you find worth pursuing, I hope you find satisfaction and prosperity in this coming year.

With deep gratitude for you,

Alan Colley (he/him/his)
Host2Host Past President & Newsletter Editor

PS: Check out Rent Responsibly's Fostering Good Neighbor Relations brochure for more in depth ideas about embracing your neighbors.