Airbnb says every booking will now help fund free emergency housing for people in crisis

The company expects the initiative to generate $500 million for Airbnb.org over five years and help fund 1 million free nights annually.

Every Airbnb stay will now help support people displaced by disasters, conflict and other emergencies under a new initiative announced by the company Wednesday.

Airbnb said it will donate a portion of the revenue it earns from every booking to Airbnb.org, its nonprofit organization that provides free temporary housing for people facing crises around the world. The company expects the program to generate $500 million for Airbnb.org over the next five years and help the nonprofit reach a goal of providing 1 million free nights of emergency housing annually.

The move marks a major expansion of Airbnb.org. The nonprofit was founded in 2020, though its origins date back to 2012 when an Airbnb host opened her home to people displaced by Hurricane Sandy. Since then, the organization says it has provided more than 1.6 million free nights of accommodation to more than 250,000 people across nearly 140 countries.

"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," Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky said in a statement.

The announcement comes as demand for emergency housing continues to rise. According to Airbnb, the organization responded to more than 200 disasters this year, up from just eight in 2023.

Airbnb.org has provided temporary housing following hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters. The nonprofit has also expanded its efforts to help people displaced by conflict and humanitarian crises. More recently, it has broadened its mission to support families traveling for medical treatment, survivors fleeing domestic violence and human trafficking and veterans facing serious illnesses.

Unlike traditional emergency shelters, Airbnb.org relies on homes already listed on Airbnb's platform, according to the press release. Hosts are paid for the stays, allowing the nonprofit to quickly secure accommodations when people are suddenly forced from their homes or need temporary housing during a crisis.

Airbnb said the new initiative will not require any action from travelers or hosts, guests will not pay additional fees and host earnings will not be reduced. Instead, the funding will come directly from Airbnb's share of booking revenue.