Every home booked on Airbnb now helps someone else find a safe place to stay in a crisis. Starting today, Airbnb will donate a portion of its revenue from every stay to Airbnb.org, the independent nonprofit that provides free, temporary housing to people in crisis.
The new funding model will help provide US$500 million to the nonprofit over the next five years, putting it on a path to 1 million nights of free housing a year. For Malaysia, it also brings a new programme that houses cancer patients and their families near treatment.
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How Every Airbnb Stay Now Supports Airbnb.org
Airbnb will donate US$0.10 of its revenue per stay. Guests will not pay more, hosts will not earn less, and neither needs to opt in. Donations do not apply to stays cancelled before check-in, or to experiences and services.
The idea began in 2012, when a host opened her home to people displaced by Hurricane Sandy. Other hosts followed, and in 2020 Airbnb founded Airbnb.org as an independent nonprofit. It has since provided more than 1.6 million nights of free housing to over 250,000 people worldwide.
“Now, every time someone books a home on Airbnb, they’ll help someone else find a place to stay when they need it most. That’s Airbnb at its best,” said Brian Chesky, co-founder and CEO of Airbnb.
Airbnb.org Grows Beyond Disaster Response
This year, the nonprofit has provided free housing in response to more than 200 disasters, up from just eight in 2023. It moves fast, too: in 2026, nearly 60% of check-ins happened within 24 hours of booking.
With the new funding and additional donations, the nonprofit will expand its support to:
- Families travelling for medical care: in more than 20 countries by the end of 2026, with partners such as the Leukaemia Foundation of Australia.
- Survivors of domestic violence and exploitation: free stays for those rebuilding after leaving unsafe situations, with partners such as Peace House in Utah.
- Veterans in the United States: support for those facing serious illness or intensive treatment, with partners including Fisher House Foundation.
Airbnb.org in Malaysia: 3,300 Nights of Free Housing
Since 2020, the nonprofit has provided more than 3,300 nights of free emergency housing in Malaysia, nearly 2,700 of them after the 2025 Putra Heights gas pipeline explosion.
Airbnb Superhost Muhammad Amirul Azhar Mohd Yasin was among those affected. After the explosion destroyed their home, he and his wife, Izzati, found an Airbnb.org stay near their burn care.
“Having to evacuate our home during Hari Raya was an incredibly difficult experience. Through Airbnb.org, my family was able to find a safe and comfortable place to stay while we recovered from the incident. As a host, I wanted to spread the word so that my neighbours could also access the same support,” he said.
Free Stays Near Treatment for Malaysian Cancer Patients
Airbnb.org is also launching its Medical Stays programme in Malaysia with the National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM), helping patients and their families find free housing near treatment. Many Malaysians must travel far from home for specialised care.
“For many families, the cost of accommodation, on top of travel and daily expenses, adds to the emotional and financial strain of a cancer diagnosis,” said Prof. Dr Murallitharan Munisamy, Managing Director of NCSM. “By easing this burden, we hope to help more patients access timely treatment and support the caregivers who play such a vital role throughout their journey.”
How Airbnb.org Works
Airbnb.org works with local nonprofits and government partners to identify people in need, then gives them credits to book the Airbnb home that suits them best, whether near family, with pets or with accessibility needs.
Guests stay for free, while hosts are paid. Hosts can also offer discounted stays or donate part of their earnings. Airbnb covers the nonprofit’s operating costs, so 100% of public donations go directly to free housing, and Airbnb makes no money from these stays.
Find out more and donate at airbnb.org.
For more on Airbnb in Malaysia, read Airbnb’s tourism priorities for Budget 2027, or see how HOMESOY and NCSM are sponsoring free mammograms.
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