Airbnb Is Offering Free Stays for Wildfire Evacuees
As wildfires in the Los Angeles area continue to spread and force people from their homes, various shelter options have opened to offer free or discounted stays for evacuees—including Airbnb. Through a partnership with 211 LA, Airbnb.org (the nonprofit arm of the short-term rental platform) is facilitating emergency temporary housing for displaced residents.
In addition, those who manage or have plans to stay in Airbnbs in the LA area will get a reprieve from cancellation fees and penalties under the platform's major disruptive events policy: Hosts can cancel bookings without consequences, and guests are eligible for full refunds if their trip hasn't started (or partial refunds for any unused nights if it has). VRBO has activated a similar policy for hosts and guests on its platform.
How to set up a free Airbnb stay
To apply for temporary housing support from Airbnb.org, residents in affected areas must fill out an intake form through 211 LA. Those who have lost their homes or been forced to evacuate from the Altadena, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, Santa Monica, and Sylmar areas are eligible. In order to request assistance, you must have an Airbnb account or be able to create one. Hosts can also sign up to offer free or discounted stays to hose affected by disasters.
If no stays are available or you are seeking alternatives for shelter, many hotels in the area are offering discounted rates for evacuees. Discover Los Angeles has a list of hotel options, while Travel + Leisure has compiled hotels and resorts across California and Nevada that have reduced rates, waived fees, or pet allowances (see both the list and the article comments).
For those needing transportation to shelter, Uber is offering free rides up to $40 (code: WILDFIRE25), while Lyft is providing two rides up to $25 each (code: CAFIRERELIEF25). Planet Fitness locations in LA are open for residents and first responders needing showers and wifi access.
If you are displaced and have to pay for shelter and food, save receipts to submit to your homeowners insurance, as you may be eligible for reimbursement for those expenses.
Finally, Mutual Aid LA has a list of resources for those displaced or in need of support, including animal boarding and community shelters.