Airbnb Offers FREE Housing to Healthcare Workers & First Responders During Coronavirus Pandemic
Airbnb is helping healthcare workers! ❤️
Airbnb just announced a new global initiative to provide 100,000 healthcare professionals, relief workers, and first responders with safe, clean, and convenient places to stay for free.
This will allow them to be closer to their patients while working long days and nights responding to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Here’s what Airbnb’s co-founder Joe Gebbia said –
“Medical workers and first responders are providing lifesaving support during the coronavirus outbreak and we want to help. 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.”
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. Airbnb said they will waive all fees for stays arranged through this initiative, even if hosts are not able to host for free.
Homes and apartments made available through the program will agree to listing entire homes and need to meet a standard of cleanliness determined by medical experts, such as enhanced cleaning, social distancing with their guests, and allowing 72 hours between stays.
Hosts interested in learning more about opening up their home can go to airbnb.com/covid19relief. Find more details in the company’s press release here.
If you’re a healthcare worker or front-line responder to the COVID-19 outbreak, we thank you for the long days & nights you’re putting in for the sake of others.💗
This is so wonderful! I wish we would’ve known about this a few days ago before we signed a short term lease, but this will go a long way in helping to protect the community and healthcare workers families!!! ❤️❤️❤️
This is great! My husband was going to rent an RV!
As an RN working on the front lines of this epidemic, stories like this make me really happy…. except when they come from a company who has closed multiple claims I have submitted in an effort to recoup costs lost from a trip I booked (in December!!) to Europe May 1st since I am mandated to be at work for the foreseeable future. Absolutely terrible customer service, long waits on the phone only to be hung up on…. yeah, not really buying that they’re here to support first responders.
It’s a great concept for Airbnb hosts who don’t need the money and rent our rooms in their home but doesn’t really help the Airbnb hosts who have experienced a 90% drop in bookings and cancellation who have bills to pay including their mortgage with no revenue coming in and wondering how long they can hold on to their property.
I wish they would also give me a refund. I have a reservation in New York City in three weeks and can’t get a refund!
Agree with all the others. Their handling of this has been pretty awful. I’m in NY and we have shelter in place orders. They won’t refund my April trip even though we have strict orders in NY to self quarantine for two weeks if we leave. 🙄
I’m an Airbnb owner and I would suggest you speak with the person you’re renting from.