I'm a middle class American and need a tenant to pay my mortgage.  

Regarding the tax treatment of short term rentals, if your guests stay in the property an average of 7 days or less, then the net income from this property is considered ordinary income and you will pay self-employment taxes.

The two primary players are North American Savings Bank in MO and First Western Federal Savings in SD.  

I stumbled upon this Department of Numbers link and the the US Census has this American Fact Finder.

I would disagree that it is all taxable and the rent is akin to ordinary income.  

US Bank, sunrise banks, drake bank, firefly credit union, First American bank, bridgewater, highland banks and I am sure a ton more 

A good portion of Americans don't have substantial savings.  

I also own and manage numerous properties which are being rented to American Military community members (Wiesbaden and Stuttgart).

Your gain will be taxed at ordinary income rates so it may have a high tax cost depending on your income situation.If you haven't flipped a property and have no intention on moving to MN to manage the flip I would say this may be over your head.

I work for a technology company that services no-profits such as Habitat for Humanity and the American Heart Association.