Airbnb Opens Doors to Victims of Puerto Rico Earthquakes

(Photo : Reuters)

Airbnb is offering displaced persons and relief workers in Puerto Rico temporary housing through its Open Homes program until January 31, as reported by CNN.

The company is encouraging its Airbnb members and others who are willing to share a space or a room in their house for the displaced individuals and relief workers who are working for the recovery of the country. The company added that those who are interested may list their room and house on the site without charging any fees. 

In the past two weeks the country has been totally devastated; a 5.9 magnitude earthquake near Indios, magnitude 6.4 in Guayanilla, and 5.2 magnitude on the southern coast not including a series of aftershocks. These quakes left more than 300,000 individuals without housing, power, and water.

People who are in need of temporary shelter can visit the website and complete the form of the service's website. Then they can search for lists of homes that are offering spaces without any charge at all. Moreover, refugees and relief workers need to have an Airbnb account, which requires them to give details such as name, date of birth, phone number, and email address before they can avail of the Open Homes program.

Meanwhile, Airbnb hosts may need more information like length of time of visitor's stay, time of arrival, and may also ask some questions to the guests. 

How does Open Homes program work?

Airbnb will notify hosts near the affected area whether they have space and willing to participate in the program. Once the hosts agree to participate in the program, they will be included in the list. Volunteers need to provide the refugee and relief workers a spare room or flat, a comfortable bed, basic amenities, toiletries, and they also have to give an option whether the visitor will stay for two days or more. All fees during this period will be waived. Luckily, there are more than 100 Airbnb hosts who signed up already in the program.

Kim Rubey, Airbnb's director of social impact, said: "Airbnb hosts in Puerto Rico have a history of sharing their generosity in times of need," This is not the first time that Airbnb is doing this program. It can be recalled that the company helped displaced individuals after New York was hit by Superstorm Sandy in 2012. 

Since then, the Airbnb Open Homes program has helped more than 40,000 individuals who were affected by different calamities including conflict and illness. 

Rubey said: "The program gives anyone with extra space the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in their neighbors' lives and for guests, having a safe place to stay is a critical element to healing and recovering in the aftermath of a disaster."

Meanwhile, there is no official system to confirm that people who are booking in the program are affected by the calamities. The guests just need to confirm that they are affected or a relief worker is responding in an official capacity. The guests must also expect that the hosts will be asking questions and they may agree on some terms before a booking is approved.