Airbnb announced a new global initiative to help connect those responding to the COVID-19 pandemic with safe and convenient places to stay while they carry out their critical work. The company’s goal is to help house 100,000 healthcare professionals, first responders and relief workers around the world. Airbnb will waive all fees for stays arranged through this initiative.
“Medical workers and first responders are providing lifesaving support during the coronavirus outbreak and we want to help,” says Airbnb’s co-founder Joe Gebbia. “We’ve heard from countless hosts around the world who want to provide a comforting home to heroic first responders. We are connecting our non-profit partners, government agencies and others with our incredible host community to work together in these extraordinary times.”
This initiative builds on two pilot programs in Italy and France where Airbnb announced that doctors, nurses, caregivers and other medical support staff who are responding to the outbreak can access free accommodation through Airbnb. The Airbnb community has already responded to the call: nearly 6,000 hosts across both Italy and France have already offered their homes.
To enable healthcare providers and other COVID-19 responders to find housing, Airbnb will be working with businesses, non-profits and government and emergency management agencies supporting these responders. Hosts can opt into the program and have the option of opening their homes for free through Airbnb’s Open Homes platform, created in 2012 to meet the needs of people requiring emergency housing. If hosts are not able to host for free, Airbnb will still waive all fees on the stay.
Airbnb has also launched a donation tool to help power even more stays for relief workers while they do their critical work. 100 percent of proceeds will go directly to nonprofits helping with COVID-19 relief efforts. To donate, go to airbnb.com/openhomes/covid19relief?donate.
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