On Wednesday evening, as firefighters in Los Angeles County fought off five spreading wildfires, companies like Airbnb, Uber, and Lyft provided prompt aid to those forced from their homes.
Airbnb revealed on Wednesday that it’s collaborating with 211 LA, a non-profit organization offering health, human, and social services to Los Angeles County residents, to offer free temporary housing to people displaced by the fires in various communities across L.A. County. Since 2012, Airbnb has been providing this service, starting with a host in Brooklyn who opened her home to those affected by Hurricane Sandy. In 2020, Airbnb.org was founded as a non-profit extension of Airbnb.com, focusing on temporary housing solutions for disaster victims worldwide. Previous aid provided by Airbnb.org includes assistance for people forced to flee their homes due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton in September and October 2024, as well as those affected by the Maui wildfires in 2023.
Yesterday, when I opened our program for L.A. residents, the floodgates of applications just burst open – thousands upon thousands poured in! That’s what Christoph Gorder, head of Airbnb.org, shared with The Hollywood Reporter yesterday afternoon.
Gorder mentioned a free stay for evacuees lasting up to seven days initially, but for those who have tragically lost their homes, a subsequent operation is put into place to offer housing assistance for a period of thirty days. He clarified, “Our primary focus at first is to help people find stability, which typically takes [seven days]. After that, we concentrate on families who have suffered home loss, and in such cases, the duration can extend to 30 days. I believe our goal here is to eventually provide this extended support.
Airbnb is waiving its service charges, while the costs for hosts are being covered through contributions to Airbnb.org. As Gorder stated, “People worldwide are eager to assist those in Los Angeles today, and this is an excellent opportunity to do so.” Essentially, all donations made go towards funding accommodation for families in need, primarily to offset the expenses that hosts might incur. Since 2020, Airbnb.org has offered over 1.6 million free nights of lodging to more than a quarter of a million individuals across 134 countries.
As a gamer, I’ve noticed that even gaming platforms are stepping up these days. Just like in my favorite games where allies join forces, ride-share apps are lending a hand too! Uber is providing free rides, worth up to $40, using the code WILDFIRE25, while Lyft has come up with CAFIRERELIEF25, good for up to $25 towards any local shelter ride. We’re all in this together, and it’s amazing to see these companies extend their help!
Gorder expressed that he wasn’t taken aback by the widespread sympathy displayed this week towards Los Angeles residents. He explained, “We established Airbnb.org years ago after one of our hosts told us, ‘I have an empty place, and someone shouldn’t be sleeping in their car.’ Altruism is something that resonates with everyone – it’s a universal human instinct to want our neighbors to assist each other.
This story may be updated as more information becomes available.
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2025-01-10 22:24