Concerning taking in boarders, I have a little information on this subject. My grandmother Kasperan, in one of the anthracite coal mining communities in northeastern PA in the area surrounding Hazleton, was required to take in boarders by the coal company. I state 'required' because that is how the information was related to me. I do not know if compensation was involved. I suspect that these boarders were newly arrived immigrants from Europe. She had as many as 25 living in the home at one time. I She cooked and baked for them, as well. The homes were rented from the coal company and very small- two rooms downstairs, a cellar, two rooms upstairs, and an attic.