Airbnb has rolled out a new funding model that directs ten cents of the revenue from each qualifying stay to Airbnb.org, an independent nonprofit that supplies free, short-term lodging to individuals displaced by emergencies.
The program is designed to move $500 million into the nonprofit over the next five years, a sum intended to help the organization reach a target of one million nights of complimentary housing each year.
Those contributions will also fund the growth of services for families traveling for medical treatment and for survivors who are fleeing domestic abuse or other forms of exploitation.
Airbnb.org began in 2012 when a host opened her home to people displaced by Hurricane Sandy, and since that first act the nonprofit has delivered more than 1.6 million nights of free accommodation to over 250 000 people around the globe.
Brian Chesky, the company’s co-founder and chief executive, explained that the model enables every eligible reservation to help someone secure shelter during a crisis, turning ordinary bookings into a source of aid.
The donation system does not raise prices for guests nor lower payouts for hosts, and neither side must opt in or complete any additional steps to participate.
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The charity has broadened its disaster response dramatically, offering free temporary housing after more than 200 incidents this year, a sharp rise from just eight events recorded in 2023.
The organization will expand aid to families needing medical care. This will cover over 20 countries by the end of 2026. It is also launching a new initiative. This program offers free stays for survivors of domestic violence and exploitation.
In the U.S., the effort is increasing support for veterans. These veterans face serious illnesses or intensive treatments.
The nonprofit works alongside local charitable groups and government agencies to locate individuals in urgent need of housing, issuing credits that let qualified guests reserve appropriate Airbnb properties that match their specific circumstances.
These credits are applied automatically at checkout, so hosts receive their normal earnings while guests benefit from the free-stay allocation without having to handle a separate booking process.