When disasters force people from their homes, one of the most urgent needs is often the least visible: a safe place to stay. Long after alerts fade, families are still searching for shelter near work, school and community.
That gap is where Airbnb.org operates.
“Airbnb.org is here to help on your worst day,” said Christine Chang, head of global operations at Airbnb.org. “We help provide housing through our network of hosts when people have been displaced and don’t have access to their homes.”
Founded in 2020 as an independent nonprofit, Airbnb.org provides free emergency housing during crises. While built on Airbnb’s platform, it operates separately as a charity, with Airbnb covering all operating expenses so donations go directly toward housing.
“Airbnb.org was founded to provide free emergency housing in times of crisis,” Chang said. “We’re able to use the Airbnb platform — millions of homes worldwide — not just for travel, but for people displaced because something terrible has happened.”
The idea dates back to 2012, when Shell, a New York City host, opened her home to people displaced by Hurricane Sandy. That act inspired Open Homes, which evolved into Airbnb.org.
When a disaster strikes, Airbnb.org works with local nonprofit or government partners embedded in disaster response. Partners identify people in need and refer them to Airbnb.org, which issues housing credits to guests’ Airbnb accounts.
“Our partners on the ground connect us to the people who need help,” Chang said. “They share guest information, we transfer credits, and that person can book a stay like anyone else — the difference is that it’s free.”
Guests can choose homes that meet their needs, whether for families, pets or accessibility. Airbnb.org ensures hosts are paid during emergencies.
“It’s important to us that hosts are paid,” Chang said. “Hosts have financial needs too, especially during disasters. We don’t ask them to bear that burden.”
Hosts are paid directly by Airbnb.org. While some hosts offer their homes at discounted rates, others provide housing for free. All participating hosts are identified with a special badge.
Airbnb.org does not self-select guests. It relies on trusted local partners like United Way and 211, often the first point of contact for people seeking help.
“Organizations like 211 are often the first place people call in a crisis,” Chang said. “They understand their community, receive the calls, and know who needs housing the most. That local knowledge is critical.”
In the Southeast, Airbnb.org has responded to multiple weather emergencies, including winter storm Fern that left hundreds without power.
“During the winter storms, especially in places like Nashville, people were without power in dangerous conditions,” Chang said. “Through our partnership with United Way and 211, we helped house more than 600 people who otherwise had nowhere to go.”
California Superhost Katie Kay Mead was drawn into action in September 2024, during the Line Fires near Highland, CA.
“The very first family to get credits was my HVAC guy,” she recalled. “This was during the Line Fire in California, and my own family had been forced to evacuate while we were helping coordinate housing for others. He called and said they needed a place off the mountain. It really brought home how urgent the need was. These were people I knew, suddenly without anywhere to go.”
Mead said that moment underscored the human stakes of the program. “It wasn’t just abstract numbers or requests coming in online,” she said. “These were real people, neighbors and friends, facing crisis. That first placement showed how quickly Airbnb.org could respond and how meaningful each stay could be.”
While most requests come from people in genuine crisis, Mead said programs have limits.
“The majority really need help, but there’s also a percentage who take advantage. That’s why protections and clear processes matter,” she said.
Hosting displaced guests requires empathy beyond traditional rentals.
“Being evacuated is one of the most stressful things you can go through,” Mead expressed. “Hosting through Airbnb.org requires empathy and a focus on hospitality during an incredibly difficult time.”
Those who want to help can donate to Airbnb.org, while Airbnb hosts can offer housing.
“Airbnb covers all of our operating costs,” Chang said. “That means every dollar donated goes directly back into communities to help provide housing for someone who has been displaced.”
Editor’s Note: This article is a mother-daughter collaboration between Gabi Hart and her mother, Nadia Giordani, who has been an Airbnb Superhost for nine years, serves as a volunteer Airbnb Community Leader for Metro Atlanta and is a former Host Advisory Board member.
