Superhost Relief Fund Invitation

[Francis93]

Hi, has anyone received the superhost relief fund invitation yet?
I meet all the criteria and my income has been decimated but I have not received anything yet. Anyone know if they have sent the emails out yet?

[Jason1350]

https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/COVID-19-Discussions/Haven-t-received-Grant-Invitation-yet-and-r...

[Stephanie]

Hiya @Francis93 ,

Thanks for starting this topic about the relief fund. I'm sorry there is a delay on invites going out but here's a little bit more information on the process and where we're at.:

How do invites work?

We started sending out invites in mid-April and we will be sending them weekly through Mid-May to eligible hosts around the world. We’re prioritising invitations based on a number of factors, including how long people have been a Superhost and how significantly their earnings have been impacted due to COVID-19. That means, most invitations so far have gone to people who have been Superhosts for 4+ years. All invites will be sent by mid-May, and if you’re invited to apply, you’ll get an email with a link to the application. 

A specialised team is reviewing every application and keeping hosts' information discreet. Everyone who applies will get a response within 2 weeks, and grants will range from $1,000 to $5,000.

Let me know if you have anymore questions.

Thanks,

Stephanie

[László3]

Dear Stephanie, 

I think I am eligible for that program, I am a Superhost since July 2015 and I haven't earned anything since the beginning of March. 

When can I expect the invitation? 

Thanks! 

[Francis93]

Hi @Stephanie , 

Thanks for your response. Can you please provide more clarity as to who exactly will be getting it? At the moment I'm just waiting for the email without any assurance and putting off some bills I need to pay.

If I meet all the criteria will I get the email eventually?

Secondly what support will be given for the rest of the year for superhosts who have lost all their bookings?

Regards
Francis

[Sol-And-Mike1]

Hi Stephanie, 

Thanks for the info. I have a unique situation where my 2020 earnings are inflated compared to 2019 but there is a valid explanation. 

On the 7th December 2019, an Airbnb guest set my apartment alight causing it to close until late February. During this time, Airbnb deposited the insurance funds into my Airbnb account showing high income. On the contrary, I was closed for PEAK season and I lost a lot of money. (Host Protection Insurance-case ref: ** . 

I spoke to a representative at Airbnb who mentioned there is NO intervention as its all automated. 

@Stephanie  I would be so grateful if I was given the opportunity to communicate this to someone because I have no doubt I qualify for relief.  

All I ask is I can email this word document with all the info included.. Please, I am desperate. 

Warm regards,

Mike **

Cape Town

[**personal details hidden]

[Stephanie]

Hiya @Francis93 and @László3 ,

Thanks for the additional questions. I have a bit more info on eligbility:

How are you deciding what hosts have been hit the hardest?

We know that this type of information is complex and sensitive—that’s why we’ve put together specific criteria to make it more objective. We start by looking at hosts’ earning trends to invite those whose earnings have decreased the most when compared to last year and who have had a long tenure as Superhosts. Then we use hosts’ responses in their applications to better understand how that decrease has affected their ability to make ends meet.

Will all Superhosts be able to apply?

There are hundreds of thousands of Superhosts around the world. While everyone in our community is feeling the impact of COVID-19, we are using this fund to offer meaningful aid to some of the Superhosts whose earnings have been hit hardest.

That means not all eligible Superhosts will be invited to apply for a relief grant. We’ll prioritise invitations based on Superhost tenure, and award relief grants to hosts that demonstrate the most urgent financial need.

I know this last piece is a hard pill to swallow and we aim to ensure we can get the grant to as many superhosts as possible.

Thanks

[Bob40]

Hi @Stephanie , as I understand it, there's 17 million in the kitty. If you only hand out the minimum grant of $1,000 to those eligible, then 17,000 superhosts will be invited.

You say there are hundreds of thousands of superhosts so let's assume 300,000 which doesn't seem an exaggeration. That means just 5.6% of superhosts can expect to be invited to apply!! If anyone receives more than $1,000, this already tiny percentage shrinks even further.

So it looks like in the region of 95% of superhosts won't be invited - am I correct?

[Zon0]

Hi

The fact that Airbnb decided to help us should be commended . I did not expect them to even think about us. We all got our hopes up. Unfortunately the follow though has been disheartening.

i think the best way to  not dismay hosts by this process is to be more detailed in your system of selection. How is airbnb defining tenure. If this is about which hosts lost the most amount of money then i understand. Many airbnb hosts have great review and statics like myself but do not generate the amount of Income as other with lesser statics may. If airbnb is judging it on that merit then i understand as airbnb is a business and must protect there biggest earners. Please let us know so we can at least understand why we may not be receiving help which has been dangled in front us

I have been a super host for 4 years - 14 quarter in a roe.

96 percent over all  5 star rating on all listing 

1195 reviews

All listings in the same house

95 -96 occupancy on my overall listings for the last 2 years

Served over 2000 airbnb guest 

75 percent of my income way wiped out

i depend on 100 percent on airbnb to live.

lost thousands  receive $37 cancellation refund from aribnb

[László3]

Hey @Stephanie , 

Thank you for your reply. 
If it turns out over time that I won’t be invited, would I be able to get a list of those who benefited from this in my city? 
I would be curious to check if they were licenced at all. 
Still waiting for the email though and hoping! 
Thanks, 

Laszlo

[Francis93]

Hi @Stephanie, 
I agree with Laszlo, there needs to be some transparency around this process. How can we trust Airbnb again if we don't know what they are doing, or if they are keeping their word. I really think  this fund should have been divided equally among hosts that have been superhosts for more than 1 year. It's so infuriating for hosts that are now in serious financial trouble with ZERO support. Airbnb really has lost the trust of hosts forever I feel.
Francis

[Tom522]

I have been a Superhost since starting in 2014.

I have lost 100% of my income, and haven't been able to pay my mortgage for three months.,

but I wasn't even offered an invitation too apply for the SHRF.

How could I not be eligible for even an invitation?