Airbnb.org and Greece’s Ministry of Health partner to Provide Housing for Doctors and Nurses on Five Aegean Islands

Airbnb.org, a nonprofit founded by Airbnb to provide emergency housing in times of crisis, and Greece’s Ministry of Health announced a new pilot partnership to provide free stays for doctors and nurses working at Public Health Centers on five Greek islands during the high-demand summer season, when local housing shortages make it difficult for essential medical staff to find affordable places to live near their posts.

It marks an expansion of Airbnb.org’s medical stays program, which provides free stays to families and individuals who need to travel away from home to receive medical treatment, and medical providers traveling to provide care. The program currently operates in 10 countries. 

In Greece, the new pilot partnership responds to a recurring challenge in the country’s most visited island destinations: during peak tourist season, medical professionals posted to local Public Health Centers can struggle to secure housing in the same communities they serve. The program is designed to give medical staff a fast, flexible way to secure housing while providing essential medical services.

Under the agreement, the Ministry of Health will identify eligible doctors and nurses. The pilot covers the period from late July through the end of September, across Santorini, Paros, Ios, Rhodes and Tinos.

Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis stated: “Staffing public healthcare facilities on our islands is one of the Ministry of Health’s highest priorities. We know that during the summer season, finding accommodation in popular island destinations is often the greatest obstacle for doctors and nurses who choose to serve there. Through this new partnership with Airbnb.org, we are providing an immediate and meaningful solution to a real problem by offering free accommodation to the healthcare professionals who support the National Health System on our islands. This initiative demonstrates that when the public sector and organizations with a strong social impact work together, they can deliver practical solutions that benefit both healthcare professionals and the residents and visitors of our islands. Finally, I would like to warmly thank the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, who coordinated this initiative at the European level.“

“Through this pilot partnership with Greece’s Ministry of Health, we’re addressing a medical care shortage at local health centers by providing medical professionals with a free place to stay nearby,” said Airbnb.org Executive Director Christoph Gorder. “This removes a barrier to accessing medical treatment, meaning more people will have access to care when they need it most.”

Airbnb.org has supported vulnerable communities in Greece through a series of emergency housing initiatives over the past several years. During the 2023 wildfires, which led to the evacuation of thousands of residents and visitors from islands such as Rhodes, Airbnb.org mobilized its emergency housing network to provide safe, short-term accommodation for those displaced. In February 2025, as a prolonged earthquake swarm forced the evacuation of Santorini, Amorgos, Anafi, and Ios, Airbnb.org partnered with the Municipality of Athens to offer free emergency housing for displaced families. More recently, following the collapse of a residential building in Athens’ Petralona district in June 2026, Airbnb.org worked with local authorities to help provide free temporary housing for affected residents who were suddenly left without a home. All stays are free for guests, provided by Airbnb.org and generous donors.

Since its launch in 2020, Airbnb.org has facilitated more than 1.6 million nights of free accommodation for people affected by disasters, conflict, and other emergencies worldwide.

Leveraging Airbnb’s platform to provide flexible emergency housing solutions 

Airbnb.org taps into Airbnb’s global community of hosts. Leveraging Airbnb’s platform provides essential housing infrastructure in challenging moments, and enables Airbnb.org to fund and facilitate free emergency housing for people in need.