Airbnb activates Open Homes Program for US hurricane victims

US: Airbnb has activated its Open Homes Program to aid residents who have been evacuated due to Hurricane Florence, including relief workers providing on-the-ground assistance.

In the event of major emergencies like Florence, Airbnb activates its host community through the Open Homes platform which allows residents who have been displaced – as well as emergency relief workers and volunteers who are coming in to assist – to find temporary accommodation with local Airbnb hosts who are opening their homes free of charge.

Airbnb hosts in parts of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia are eligible to take part in the program and list their homes for free to evacuees and emergency relief workers.

The free listings are available until October 1. Airbnb will expand the territory of Open Homes listings if and where needed, or as requested by local officials.

The program began in 2012 in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and has since grown into a global disaster response initiative that makes it easy for Airbnb hosts to provide space for people in need. To date, the disaster response and relief team have responded to more than 250 disasters worldwide.