Airbnb.org offers free emergency housing to first responders after the earthquake in Colombia

Key Takeaways

• Airbnb.org is providing free emergency housing for first responders supporting relief efforts after the recent magnitude 7.4 earthquake.
  
  
• Airbnb.org is working with Defensa Civil Colombiana, Fundación Renacer, CENACED, Save the Children Colombia and others to support relief workers and identify displaced residents in need of shelter.
  
  

To support those impacted by the earthquake in Colombia, Airbnb.org—a nonprofit founded by Airbnb to provide emergency housing in times of crisis—is offering free emergency housing to first responders staging in the affected areas. Stays are free for these organizations, and are funded by Airbnb.org and the generosity of donors.

In this initial stage, Airbnb.org is working with Defensa Civil Colombiana, and nonprofits, including CENACED, Fundación Renacer, and Save the Children Colombia to support their work as they respond to the earthquake in Colombia.

For first responders, Airbnb.org is working directly with relief organizations to provide stays close to the areas where they’re needed most, giving crews a place to rest and recharge between shifts.

[i]A stable place to stay gives first responders a place close to the affected areas to rest and recover before heading back out to help. Alongside our partners, we’re already working to provide free stays for some organizations responding to the earthquake in Colombia as they help those affected begin the road to recovery[/i].

Christoph Gorder, Executive Director of Airbnb.org.

[i]This network turns the diversity of its members into a shared course of action that multiplies the impact of aid. Its strength lies in the fact that each member contributes its capabilities toward a common purpose: responding to emergencies and disasters together, and effectively. The support of airbnb.org is an essential boost in strengthening our brigades’ response capacity and ensuring that those on the front line of care have housing during critical moments[/i].

Cynthia Espinoza Aranguré, Director General of CENACED

[i]During the emergency, the risks of sexual exploitation and trafficking increase. That’s why we’ve started prevention efforts in the shelters. But our response also seeks to support affected families: we’re helping some who lost their homes with dignified temporary housing in Pereira and Quibdó, with support from Airbnb. Fundación Renacer is also leading a campaign with the Gestora Social de Quibdó to receive donations that support the rebuilding of some homes, because the emergency doesn’t end when the crisis passes—now comes recovery[/i].

Luz Stella Cárdenas, Director, Fundación Renacer

[i]Thousands of homes have been damaged or reduced to rubble, and schools, community centers, and hospitals—the places children and adolescents depend on to feel safe—have been damaged. For thousands of children and adolescents, their entire world and sense of safety have been torn away[/i].

María Mercedes Liévano, National Director of Save the Children in Colombia

Airbnb.org uses the Airbnb platform to connect people who need a place to stay in times of crisis with Airbnb hosts. 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, including during wildfires in Los Angeles and France, hurricanes in the Caribbean, floods in Brazil, and earthquakes in Japan and Venezuela.

Anyone interested in supporting those impacted by the earthquake in Colombia can visit Airbnb.org to either:

• If you’re an Airbnb host, you can sign up to provide discounted Airbnb.org stays.
  
  
• Donate to Airbnb.org—100% of donations go directly toward connecting people in crisis with emergency housing.
  
  

About Defensa Civil Colombiana

The Colombian Civil Defense, within the scope of its mandate, carries out processes in disaster risk management, social action, environmental management, and educational programs aimed at volunteers and the community, to contribute to human security across the national territory and to respond to international commitments.

About Fundación Renacer

Fundación Renacer is a Colombian NGO that has worked for 38 years to protect children and adolescents from commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking, promoting prevention efforts, specialized care, and research.

About CENACED

CENACED is the Centro Nacional de Apoyo a Contingencias Epidemiológicas y Desastres, A.C. (National Center for Support in Epidemiological Contingencies and Disasters). It is a nonprofit civil organization in Mexico with more than 20 years of experience. Its main objective is to coordinate humanitarian aid and reduce risks in the face of natural disasters or health crises.

About Save the Children Colombia

Save the Children has been working in Colombia since 1985, supporting children affected by conflict, displacement, migration, poverty, climate crises, and other humanitarian emergencies. We support children and their families through programs focused on education, health and nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene, child protection, child rights governance, and livelihoods.

Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization founded by Airbnb that connects people to free emergency housing in times of crisis. Airbnb.org pays for stays, leverages the Airbnb platform, and taps into Airbnb’s global community of hosts willing to share their homes with those in need. Airbnb covers all Airbnb.org’s operating costs and makes no money on Airbnb.org stays. This means 100% of donations directly fund stays for people in need of emergency housing. Since 2020, Airbnb.org has provided 1.6 million nights of free, temporary housing in nearly 140 countries around the world.

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.