Providing Accommodations for Frontline Responders in New Orleans

• Airbnb will support up to 350 stays for frontline workers with a $500k commitment
• Accommodations will be available to doctors, nurses, police officers, firefighters, ambulance drivers, janitorial staff, dining staff, and city workers delivering PPE

Airbnb and the City of New Orleans announced today they have combined forces with multiple organizations to provide places to stay for frontline responders in the New Orleans area. The collaboration, which includes the Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, the EMS Foundation and the New Orleans LCMC Health Hospital System, will help provide accommodations for hundreds of frontline responders through the Airbnb Frontline stays program.

Airbnb is contributing $500,000 to help cover the cost of the Frontline stays in New Orleans. This contribution will go towards paying New Orleans hosts to help fulfill stays for the 350 responders via the Airbnb platform. 

“We are glad to be able to provide some financial support to our local New Orleans hosts, who have answered the call to help provide housing for those fighting on the front lines of this crisis.”

Laura Spanjian, Senior Public Policy Director at Airbnb

“We are grateful to our frontline workers who are working day in and day out to protect residents across the state,” said Governor John Bel Edwards. “This program will provide our brave frontline responders with comfortable and convenient stays where they can self-isolate from their families and continue serving their patients.”

“Healthcare workers and first responders have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic to help and protect all of us,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “I am proud of the partnership created between NOHSEP, the EMS Foundation, New Orleans LCMC, and Airbnb to provide funding so that our men and women have a safe and long-term place to call home during this crisis. By doing this, we are also putting money back into the economy for our local short-term rental owners. Our healthcare workers and first responders have been and continue to show up for us, and we need to show up for them.”

“Airbnb is proud to stand arm-in-arm with the City of New Orleans and all of its communities that have suffered greatly during this crisis,” said Laura Spanjian, Senior Public Policy Director at Airbnb. “We are glad to be able to provide some financial support to our local New Orleans hosts, who have answered the call to help provide housing for those fighting on the front lines of this crisis.” 

“Our EMS crews are facing monumental challenges on a daily basis from increased call volumes to tough response scenarios,” said Nicholas Stathopoulos, President of the EMS Foundation. “This partnership and housing will help keep responders and their families safe and is another example of the power of collaboration during this crisis.” 

While the no-cost stays are being booked through the participating organizations, frontline workers can also book free and paid stays directly on the Airbnb platform by visiting https://www.airbnb.com/covid19relief-guests. Airbnb will waive its fees on the first 100,000 stays booked through the Frontline stays program.

Accommodation for relief and medical workers, who have higher exposure to COVID-19, requires robust preventive practices and stringent safety standards. Airbnb takes the health and safety of its community very seriously and has worked with leading experts and officials to develop a protocol for hosts who support this collective health effort. The protocol incorporates guidance from local and national authorities and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

For any hosts interested in joining this community of Frontline stays, please sign up here. Partners who have a need visit here to learn more and sign up for support. If you are a COVID-19 responder, get started here.  And anyone who may not be able to open their home, but still would like to help, can donate to help fund even more stays.