Airbnb has activated its emergency response programme to provide free temporary housing for families displaced by wildfires in the Madrid and Ávila regions.
The initiative is being conducted in partnership with the Association Mensajeros de la Paz, which is collaborating with local authorities and municipalities to identify displaced residents and direct them toward available accommodation solutions.
The wildfires have resulted in the evacuation of tens of thousands of people and prompted the Spanish government to declare a national emergency, marking the first time such a status has been issued in the country due to a wildfire.
Eligibility for the free housing is limited to residents whose primary homes are situated within mandatory evacuation zones. Those individuals may apply for assistance by contacting the Association Mensajeros de la Paz. At this time, people who have only received evacuation warnings or notices, rather than mandatory evacuation orders, are not eligible for the programme.
Airbnb operates by leveraging its platform and a global community of hosts to connect people in crisis with free accommodation. The organisation has stated that 100% of donations are used to fund emergency housing stays and other crisis responses.
The mobilisation follows previous crisis relief efforts by the organisation in Spain, including support for those affected by the 2024 floods in Comunitat Valenciana and the implementation of a Medical Stays programme to assist families travelling for medical treatment.
Since 2020, Airbnb has facilitated 1.6 million nights of free, temporary housing in nearly 140 countries around the world.
