Providing Accommodations to New York’s Nurses

• Airbnb will support no cost stays for NYSNA members who are serving on the frontlines of the COVID-19 crisis, including on Long Island and Staten Island
• Airbnb is also working with the New York City Fire Department to provide officers in New York City with places to stay
• Stays supported through personal commitment of $2 million by Co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky to help provide accommodations to first responders across New York

Airbnb, the world’s leading community-driven hospitality company, and the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) — New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses — today announced a new partnership to provide places to stay to NYSNA members fighting on the frontline of the COVID-19 crisis statewide. Through this partnership, NYSNA members will receive direct access to book free stays via the Airbnb Frontline stays program, with a specific focus on serving NYSNA members in need of accommodations on Long Island and Staten Island.

Airbnb is also working with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) to connect their members — including Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics — to hotel rooms via the Airbnb platform and HotelTonight (part of the Airbnb family).

“All across New York, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, frontline workers are saving lives — it is an honor and a privilege to offer these heroes some peace of mind and the ability to safeguard their families off the clock through Frontline stays.

Josh Meltzer, Head of Northeast Policy, Airbnb

Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky’s $2 million personal commitment to support New York’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic will contribute to these frontline stays and help fulfill stays at no cost.

“Nurses and other frontline healthcare workers are fighting COVID-19 with everything we’ve got. Protecting our families sometimes means keeping our distance, and thanks to programs like Frontline stays we’re able to take care of our families as well as our patients,” said Pat Kane, Executive Director of the New York State Nurses Association.

“All across New York, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, frontline workers are saving lives — it is an honor and a privilege to offer these heroes some peace of mind and the ability to safeguard their families off the clock through Frontline stays. We are proud to stand with NYSNA and support their members as they fight to keep us safe,” said Josh Meltzer, Head of Northeast Policy for Airbnb. 

Earlier this month, Airbnb joined forces with 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East — the largest healthcare union in the nation — to offer 1199 members accommodations across the East Coast. 

These initiatives with NYSNA, the FDNY and 1199SEIU are all part of Frontline stays, Airbnb’s program to allow hosts to open their spaces to those on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, Airbnb’s incredible global community of generous hosts have offered over 200,000 places to stay for people responding to the pandemic. Through this program, healthcare staff and other first responders can book eligible and available, free and paid stays in 160 countries and regions.

Hosts interested in supporting first responders can sign up here. First responder organizations who have a need can 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, you can donate to help fund even more stays.