[UPDATED April 10] How hosts can provide housing for COVID-19 responders

[Airbnb]

Many of you have expressed an interest in hosting healthcare staff, and first responders on the front lines. So we wanted to let you know about a new program we launched to help you do just that. Airbnb is partnering with our hosts to connect 100,000 COVID-19 healthcare staff and first responders with comfortable and convenient places to stay. 

We know you might be wondering how the Frontline Stays program works, whether or not your space is eligible, and how to apply. We’ve answered these questions and more at Airbnb.com/COVID. If you’re interested in applying for the program, you can do so using the online form at Airbnb.com/COVID19relief. 

As always, we appreciate the resilience and generosity of hosts in the Airbnb community. We know this is a challenging time for so many of you, and your desire to help others is such an inspiration. Thank you again for all you do!

Updated April 10, 2020

We’re so inspired by your enthusiasm for the new Frontline Stays program! We know you still have questions about how it works, so we wanted to take a moment to answer some of them here.

What kinds of guests can I expect to host as part of the Frontline Stays program?

Tens of thousands of COVID-19 responders around the world are looking for temporary housing right now. Many are nurses and doctors traveling to impacted areas to support local hospital staff, medical staff burdened by long commutes and back-to-back shifts, and relief workers who are exposed to patients every day and are concerned for the health of their families—especially those with elderly parents or infants at home. 

I’ve blocked off my calendar but want to help. How long should I leave my calendar open to participate in the program? 

We recommend opening up your calendar through July 31, 2020. Keep in mind that there’s only one calendar associated with your listing. Dates you make available can potentially be reserved by any guest, whether or not they’re a COVID-19 responder. If you only want to host COVID-19 responders at this time, you’ll need to turn off Instant Book so you have more control over who can reserve your space. The normal penalties associated with declining bookings don’t apply to requests from responders, so you don’t have to worry about that. 

Who can book through this program?

Healthcare staff and first responders must be either affiliated with partner organizations or reviewed by Airbnb prior to check-in. This process helps ensure responders have a COVID-19 work assignment and are familiar with safety protocols. If Airbnb is unable to confirm a guest's COVID-related work prior to check-in, the reservation will be canceled.  

How will I know if a guest is a COVID-19 responder? 

These guests will have a special COVID-19 designation on their booking requests and confirmations. So whether you have Instant Book turned on or not, you’ll be able to identify COVID-19 responders right away.

How should I price my space?

Many COVID-19 responders who are signing up through our program are in need of free or deeply discounted listings because they’re paying out of pocket for their stays. If you can offer COVID-19 responders a space for free, please consider doing so. 

If you’re not currently hosting on Airbnb but want to provide free stays for COVID-19 responders, sign up for the program here. 

If you’re already a host on Airbnb, sign up to host COVID-19 responders here—you’ll be able to set the price at your full rate, at a discount, or for free.

How do I set a discounted rate for COVID-19 responders?

If you’re a host with an active listing on Airbnb, you can set a discount for COVID-19 responders when you sign up to host healthcare staff and first responders. If you don’t have a listing yet but you’d like to help, create a new Airbnb listing first and then sign up to set a discounted rate for responders.

Once you set a discount, we’ll automatically apply it to reservations made by COVID-19 responders only, and you’ll get the price breakdown when you receive the booking request or Instant Book reservation. Please keep in mind that your calendar won’t reflect the discounted price for COVID-19 responders.

I’m trying to opt in with a discounted rate, and it’s not letting me. Why is that?

Thanks for your feedback on this issue. There was a technical issue with the opt-in experience for some regions, but that should be fixed now. If you’re still having trouble with this, please let us know in the comments.

We want to remind you that we’ve answered even more questions in our Resource Center article, so please check that out for additional information about the program.

[Whitney121]

It’s not allowing me to opt in for free or discount.  The SAVE button keeps moving to CANCEL.  Glitch?

[Bruno78]

Hi,

What sort of verification does Airbnb do exactly?

I have just registered and immediately got a strange request from a guest that does not seem verified at all.

Please advise.Thank you.

[Susie0]

Airbnb should just have a checkbox where first responders can filter listings by hosts who are open to hosting people exposed to COVID and who will clean accordingly. 

[Eric4403]

I have a three private rooms listed in my place that is a stones throw from the hospital.   I already have healthcare providers booking, I would like to provide housing to healthcare workers only as well which I can offer at a lower rate than an entire place would be.   Why is my circumstance excluded.  

[Sarah977]

@Eric4403  It's commendable that you want to host healthcare workers, but your listing has a shared bathroom. This is simply not okay as far as the COVID safety precautions. How do you not understand that? I also am an in-home host and although the room I list has a private bathroom and a separate entrance, guest share my kitchen and it wouldn't be practical to remove that amenity, because I am a 20 minute walk from stores and restaurants. Obviously a shared space isn't appropriate as far as keeping both me and guests safe.

[Bryan93]

I see the problem now. I said I'd do it for 100% off. Now other people are trying to book my place due to the free price. That wasn't well thought out. 

[Bryan93]

I think this is the way to do it.

[Stephanie]

Hiya everyone,

Thank you so much for your input here! We have just updated this post with some more information which you can see in the main topic - let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks,

Stephanie

@Betsy13 @Sarah977 @Bryan93 @Eric4403 @Lisa723 @Beth44 @Tanya6 @Yiwei3 @Inna22 @Kimmie2 @Helen350 @Erica1023 @Alexandra316 @Mark116 @Hilary79 @Trevor243 @Helen3 @Whitney121 @Bryan93 

[Yiwei3]

@Stephanie got it!  thanks!

[Trevor243]

AirBnB's normal verification process is woefully inadequate .... I have absolutely zero confidence in AirBnB's COVID-19 Responsder verification .... and as yet, I have seen no evidence from the UK Government or the NHS that they are working with AirBnB or any other OTA .... however, I have seen evidence from the NHS that they are sourcing accommodation as needed without using AirBnB ....

[Helen350]

@Trevor243 Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes! - To all of the above!

Round here, a provider of motel-type (expensive) rooms for mainly Sellafield workers has made themselves available for NHS for free I think.... And a purveyor of holiday lodges (!) in the Eastern part of he Lake District has done the same.

- Meanwhile, I have a carer from Reading (300 miles away) staying with me this week, 6 nights at £20 a night. (Not Airbnb.) He provides 1 to 1 care to a severely disabled young man in the man's own home.  We are maintaining social distancing!

[Patrick568]

Great points and comments everyone. Thank you!!

[Alex1485]

@Airbnb @Lizzie Can AIRBNB assist hosts with procuring CDC recommended cleaning supplies so we may host first responders? We are 10 minutes from #1 hospital on east coast, #2 in America. Amazon can't fulfill our subscription orders for CDC approved cleaning supplies and our local stores are out of all CDC approved supplies, including bleach. 

[Alex1485]

@Airbnb @Lizzie Facebook donated  their supply of 720,00  face masks earmarked for the CA wildfires. Does @AirBNB have masks it can supply to the thousands of hosts already signed up to host first responders?

[Kareen18]

@Airbnb  Hi! I opted to offer my appartment to Covid19 first responders. On my page, it now says to guests "Only one hour left to book this place. The host will stop accepting bookings for your travel dates soon." Does that mean that I wont be able to rent to regular guests as well? I thought we would be able to. Also, please confirm  that I'm allowed to state a condition in the pre-booking (instant) message or otherwise, indicating that they acknowledge knowing that they can only stay for a maximum quarantine period of 30 days and will look for another accommodation should they require to extend their quarantine. If it's not possible then I wont be able to offer it. All accommodations here in Quebec change legal status after the 30 days period and I wouldn't want mine to undergo that change. However,  I'm not sure if this law applies to Covid19 caregivers.  Thank you for fixing that little blip on my page and for the information. Have a nice day 🙂