Airbnb.org provides free, emergency housing to people impacted by flooding in central Texas

Key Takeaways

• Airbnb.org is providing free, emergency housing to people impacted by flooding in central Texas.
• Airbnb.org is working with All Hands and Hearts, state and local officials, and local nonprofits to identify those most in need of emergency housing and connect them to a free place to stay.

To support those impacted by recent flooding in central Texas, Airbnb.org—a nonprofit founded by Airbnb to provide emergency housing in times of crisis—is working with nonprofit organization All Hands and Hearts, state and local officials, and local nonprofits to offer free, emergency housing to both displaced residents and first responders. Stays are completely free for guests and are funded by Airbnb.org and the generosity of donors.

How it works

Airbnb.org works with local organizations to help identify those in greatest need of emergency housing. All Hands and Hearts, state and local officials, and other nonprofits are identifying central Texas residents most in need of temporary housing and referring them to Airbnb.org. Impacted individuals are then granted credits from Airbnb.org to book an Airbnb stay that meets their needs—often close to their workplaces, schools, or support networks. Airbnb.org is also providing emergency housing to first responders and those with missing family members who need to stay closer to search and rescue operations.

“In the wake of the devastating flooding in Kerr County, the need for safe, immediate housing is urgent. We’re incredibly grateful to partner with Airbnb.org to ensure that first responders, families awaiting news of missing loved ones and those displaced by this disaster have a place to stay. Together, we’re helping restore a sense of stability and dignity in a time of crisis.”

 — Nate Mook, CEO, All Hands and Hearts

Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization founded by Airbnb that connects people to emergency housing in times of crisis. Airbnb.org uses the Airbnb platform to connect people who need a place to stay with Airbnb hosts willing to share theirs. 100 percent of all donations go directly to providing emergency housing in times of crisis. Since its founding in 2020, Airbnb.org has provided 1.6 million nights of free, temporary housing to more than 250,000 people.

Most recently, Airbnb.org offered free, temporary housing to people displaced by tornadoes in Kentucky, wildfires in Los Angeles and Jasper, Canada, Hurricanes Milton and Helene in Florida, floods in Brazil, and the earthquake in Japan’s Noto Peninsula. 

Note: Airbnb.org does not offer housing directly to individuals at this time. Those impacted and in need of emergency housing can reach out to All Hands and Hearts at texasflood@allhandsandhearts.org.

How to help

Anyone interested in supporting those impacted by the floods in central Texas and other crises can visit Airbnb.org to do the following:

• Sign up to offer discounted stays as an Airbnb.org host. Airbnb waives all service fees for Airbnb.org hosts and guests. Hosts who sign up to share their home through Airbnb.org receive damage protection and liability insurance with AirCover for each booking.
• Donate to Airbnb.org. 100% of donations help impacted people and first responders access free, emergency housing during disasters. 

About All Hands and Hearts 

All Hands and Hearts (AHAH) is a community-inspired, volunteer-powered disaster relief nonprofit that addresses the immediate and long-term needs of disaster-affected communities. With nearly 20 years of disaster-relief experience, AHAH is committed to swift action, aiming to deploy teams to provide urgent aid as soon as disaster strikes. But their commitment doesn’t end there – AHAH remains on the ground long after the spotlight has faded, dedicated to working closely with the impacted community to find solutions to their unique needs and challenges. AHAH’s goal is to restore hope when hope is hard to find, helping communities rebuild with the support necessary to thrive.

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed over 2 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays, experiences, and services that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.

Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc.’s technology, services, and other resources at no charge to carry out Airbnb.org’s charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened up her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This sparked a movement and marked the beginning of a program that allows hosts on Airbnb to provide stays for people in times of need. Since then, the program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays to evacuees, relief workers, refugees, asylum seekers, and frontline workers fighting the spread of COVID-19. Since then, hosts have offered to open up their homes and helped provide accommodations to 100,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for Airbnb.org supported stays on its platform.