Archdiocese Of Philadelphia Continues Push For Alternative Housing During Papal Visit
By John McDevitt
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- With hotels and motels in the region expected to be filled to capacity for the World Meeting of Families and visit of Pope Francis in late September, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia is continuing its push to find alternative housing.
The archdiocese says there is an urgent need for the public's help and it's asking for Catholics and the generous to rent a room or property at a reasonable fee to visitors of the World Meeting of Families and papal visit the week of September 22nd.
Global travel firm Homestay.com, based in Dublin, Ireland, is teaming up with World Meeting Of Families 2015 offering a technology platform, support and customer service for hosts and potential guests. An online application is available for potential host families.
"We have more than 600 families who have signed up to date," says company CEO Alan Clarke, "and the World Meeting of Families executives anticipate that there is going be a need for thousands more."
Hosts can create a profile, upload photos, provide descriptions, rules and what they would like to charge. The fee is up to the property owner, but hosts are being asked to keep it affordable.
Rooms or other places to rent must be within 120 miles from Center City Philadelphia.
Once approved to "go live," the listing will be available exclusively for the event.
