New global initiative will provide free or subsidised housing for healthcare professionals, relief workers, and first
responders, typically closer to where they are working
· Airbnb Hosts can opt in to provide homes that follow new cleanliness protocols based on recommendations from medical
experts
· Airbnb is partnering with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the International
Rescue Committee, International Medical Corps and other nonprofit organisations to help support their relief workers on
the frontlines
Today, Airbnb is announcing 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, relief workers, and first responders 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,” said 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 nonprofit partners, government agencies and others
with our incredible host community to work together in these extraordinary times.”
The initiative builds on a pilot program launched earlier this week in France where Airbnb and the French government
announced that doctors, nurses, caregivers and other medical support staff who are responding to the outbreak in the
country can access free accommodation through Airbnb. The Airbnb community has already responded to the call, with
nearly 4,000 hosts in the country offering their homes after the announcement on Tuesday.
To enable healthcare providers and other COVID-19 responders to find housing, Airbnb will be working with businesses,
nonprofits, 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.
Accommodation for relief and medical workers, who have higher exposition to COVID-19, requires robust preventive
practices and stringent safety standards. Airbnb takes the health and safety of its community very seriously and has
worked with leading experts and officials to develop a protocol for hosts who support this collective health effort. The
protocol will be updated to incorporate new requirements from local and national authorities and the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC). We are working with experts to continuously enhance our approach, including Dr. Larry
Brilliant, a renowned epidemiologist and Chair of Ending Pandemics. Dr. Brilliant will also involve several nationally
recognised experts from his consultancy, Pandefense, in this effort.
“While science is still developing around COVID-19, and there is a lot we do not know, we have provided guidance to
support the Airbnb community participating in immediate efforts with governments and institutions. As medical and relief
workers require accommodation for response and preparedness, the Airbnb community is in a unique position to help. I
applaud Airbnb for working under conditions of such uncertainty to provide housing for first responders and medical
staff working in this pandemic. We are working to provide clear communication and resources, based on rapidly evolving
knowledge about this novel virus and best practices on sanitation, in order to help keep communities as safe as
possible," said Dr. Larry Brilliant.
Examples of safe hosting recommendations include listing entire homes and agreeing to a number of safety requirements
including enhanced cleaning, social distancing with their guests, and allowing 72 hours between stays. Airbnb’s partners
or affiliates will ensure that stays are COVID-19 related and responders are familiar with safety protocols. To learn
more and to open their homes, hosts can go to airbnb.com/covid19relief.
Through this initiative, Airbnb will be working with leading organisations who have already deployed thousands of relief
workers to help fight the pandemic. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are
coordinating their network of millions of volunteers in 192 countries to respond to the outbreak. The International
Rescue Committee has launched coronavirus preparedness and response in over 40 countries, and International Medical
Corps is working with its approximately 7,000 staff globally to provide medical supplies, training and triage and
treatment services during the outbreak.
“Airbnb and Open Homes maintain a unique capability to address housing needs at the most critical of times,” said Nancy
Aossey, President and CEO of International Medical Corps. “This commitment will help International Medical Corps house
our frontline health workers and first responders as our teams address the global COVID-19 pandemic, reaching hot-spot
and low-resource areas in the US and around the world. Thanks to this timely and generous support, we can direct more
funds to provide medical care, medical supplies, mental health services, and training and education on infection
prevention and control while helping ensure our staff members have a place to go home to.”
Airbnb has also launched a donation tool to help power even more stays for relief workers while they do their critical
work. One-hundred percent of proceeds will go directly to nonprofits helping with COVID-19 relief efforts. To donate, go
to airbnb.com/openhomes/covid19relief?donate.About Airbnb:
Airbnb is one of the world’s largest marketplaces for unique, authentic places to stay and things to do, offering over 7
million accommodations and 40,000 handcrafted activities, all powered by local hosts. An economic empowerment engine,
Airbnb has helped millions of hospitality entrepreneurs monetise their spaces and their passions while keeping the
financial benefits of tourism in their own communities. With more than half a billion guest arrivals to date, and
accessible in 62 languages across over 220 countries and regions, Airbnb promotes people-to-people connection,
community and trust around the world.