If/when Bernie Sanders is competing in my state I assume several hundred (maybe thousand?) volunteers will be in this state. Does anyone know if in these situations if it is customary for the campaign to pay for living quarters or do locals volunteer their living spaces?
I ask because I read on the news today that the Clinton campaign was asking supporters in the NYC area to house volunteers.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/04/clinton-camp-asks-donors-to-provide-place-for-volunteers-to-crash/
If Sanders asked people in my state to do that, I’d probably volunteer (I live in the state capital and near a bus line). Is this a common thing, or is what Clinton asked very uncommon?
It’s fairly common. Both for political candidates, and for issues groups to send workers into targeted areas. Usually these are young people, working long hours, for very little pay. They couldn’t afford to pay rent. Having a supporter provide a spare bedroom & access to a bathroom works out real well.
Here in Minnesota, I know of different friends who have provides this for people from the national party, from gay/lesbian organizations, and from feminist groups.
Generally, the fair-market rent value of this has to be reported as an in-kind contribution.
When I was working for Dukakis in Nashua from the fall of 1987 through Feb. 1988, I stayed rent-free at the home of a very obliging local supporter (and state rep, as every third person in New Hampshire seems to be). As the campaign went on, I stayed in donated apartments or other homes (including a very nice guest house on a Grosse Pointe, Mich. estate). Dunno about campaign contribution reporting requirements of that sort, then or now.