Airbnb Activates Open Homes Program Ahead Of Tropical Storm Barry

PASADENA, TX — Airbnb, the popular online marketplace that specializes in hospitality, is opening up homes for free to first responders and those who are potentially displaced by Tropical Storm Barry. Airbnb announced on Thursday that they are activating its Open Homes Program ahead of the storm.

Tropical Storm Barry, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico Thursday morning, is projected to come ashore in south central Louisiana bring heavy rain and the potential for flooding.

"Airbnb’s Open Homes Program has been activated to assist residents displaced by and relief workers deployed to respond to Tropical Storm Barry," Kellie Bentz, Airbnb’s Head of Global Disaster Response and Relief said in as written statement. "Through the program, those in need of temporary accommodations can connect with Open Homes hosts in the area free of charge."

The program extends through July 31 and is available across several Southern Louisiana, Southeastern Texas and Southwestern Alabama.

According to the Airbnb webpage, the Open Homes Program has 66 homes that have so far been made available for those who need shelter.

The Open Home Program began in 2012 in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and has since grown into a global disaster response initiative that makes it easy for Airbnb hosts to provide space for people in need when disasters strike.

The Open Homes Program recruits hosts who are willing and able to provide free housing to displaced residents and disaster relief workers in the activation area including southern Louisiana, and parts of Texas and Alabama.

Airbnb Hosts within the affected area have the ability to opt into listing their homes for $0, offering accommodations free of charge to those in need by clicking here.

Airbnb hosts in the region have a history of opening their homes for those in need. The Open Homes Program helped house people last year during Hurricane Michael and in 2017 during Hurricane Harvey, as well as through tornadoes in the area.

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