BANGKOK, 30 October 2026: Airbnb will donate a portion of revenue from every stay to Airbnb.org, which provides free, temporary housing to people in crisis.
The new funding model, introduced on Thursday, will provide USD500 million to Airbnb.org over the next five years, putting the nonprofit on a path to provide 1 million nights of free housing annually.
This funding will also allow Airbnb.org to expand its work to support families travelling for medical care and survivors fleeing domestic violence and exploitation.
The idea for Airbnb.org began in 2012 when a host opened her home to people displaced by Hurricane Sandy. Other hosts followed, and in 2020 the effort inspired Airbnb to found Airbnb.org, an independent nonprofit. Since then, Airbnb.org has provided more than 1.6 million nights of free housing to more than 250,000 people around the world.
“Fourteen years ago, after Hurricane Sandy hit, one host opened her home to people who had nowhere else to go. That simple act of generosity grew into Airbnb.org. Since then, we’ve helped provide more than 1.6 million nights of free housing to people in crisis. 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 Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky,
This new funding model will not increase what guests pay or reduce host payouts. Guests and hosts don’t need to opt in or take any action.
Expanding Airbnb.org’s impact
This year, Airbnb.org has provided free temporary housing in response to more than 200 disasters, compared with just eight in 2023. At the same time, Airbnb.org is expanding beyond disaster response to more situations where free temporary stays can provide comfort and stability.
The US$500 million in funding from Airbnb and additional donations will help Airbnb.org expand its work to include:
Families travelling for medical care: By the end of 2026, Airbnb.org will support families travelling for medical care in more than 20 countries, in partnerships with the Leukaemia Foundation of Australia, Instituto Beaba in Brazil, B.C. Friends of Children in Canada, Fundación Xana in Spain, and Children’s Miracle Network in the United States, among others.
Survivors of domestic violence and exploitation: A new program will provide free, temporary stays for survivors who have left unsafe situations and are rebuilding, in partnership with Peace House in Utah, among others.
Veterans in the United States: Airbnb.org is expanding support for veterans facing serious illness or undergoing intensive treatment, in partnership with Fisher House Foundation, Dream Foundation and Operation Healing Forces.
Airbnb.org in Thailand
Since 2020, Airbnb.org has provided more than 7,200 nights of free emergency housing in Thailand, including during the March 2025 earthquake in collaboration with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and Zendai Foundation, and Hat Yai flooding in 2025.
When families need a place to stay during a crisis, Airbnb.org helps them find one quickly. In 2026, nearly 60% of Airbnb.org check-ins worldwide happened within 24 hours of booking.
Airbnb.org signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the BMA this year to provide free emergency housing for people displaced by disasters and first responders during crises. The partnership aims to speed up access to temporary housing for disaster-displaced people across Bangkok.
How Airbnb.org works
Airbnb.org is an independent nonprofit that provides free, temporary housing to people in times of crisis. It works with local nonprofit organisations and government partners to identify people who need support.
Guests supported by Airbnb.org stay for free, while hosts are paid. Hosts can also choose to support Airbnb.org by offering discounted stays or donating a portion of their Airbnb earnings.
Airbnb covers Airbnb.org’s operating costs, allowing 100% of public donations to go directly toward providing free housing. Airbnb makes no money from Airbnb.org stays.
(Source: Airbnb)
