Airbnb allots part of revenue to provide emergency housing during crises

MANILA — Airbnb announced Thursday a new funding model that automatically directs a portion of its booking revenue to Airbnb.org to finance free emergency housing during crises.

Under the plan, Airbnb will donate $0.10 per stay without raising guest fees or cutting host payouts. The initiative aims to direct $500 million to the non-profit over five years to provide 1 million nights of free temporary stays annually.   

“Now, every time someone books a home on Airbnb, they’ll help someone else find a place to stay when they need it most. That’s Airbnb at its best,” said Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb.   

The non-profit, which responded to over 200 disasters this year compared with eight in 2023, is expanding beyond disaster response to support families traveling for medical care, domestic violence survivors, and military veterans. 

In the Philippines, Airbnb.org has regularly collaborated with local partner Angat Buhay during earthquakes and typhoons.   

“In times of crisis, helping people means making sure they can access the support they need most. Following the Cebu earthquake, while our volunteers worked to deliver essential supplies to those in need, Airbnb.org helped provide accommodation for our responders. A collaboration like this makes a real difference in supporting communities affected by disasters,” said Menard Mabutol, Program Manager for Climate Action and Sustainability at Angat Buhay.