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Airbnb hosts are offering NHS and medical staff free places to stay whilst they carry out their critical work on the frontline of the Covid-19 crisis.
Airbnb announced that it will waive all fees for these stays, and hosts on the platform can opt into the programme through Airbnb’s Open Homes scheme.
Thus far, nearly 1,500 places to stay have already been offered by hosts in the UK.
The Open Homes initiative was created in 2012, with the aim to “meet the needs” of people requiring emergency housing.
It is a local expansion of a new global program by Airbnb to help house 100,000 healthcare professionals, relief workers, and first responders across the world.
It builds on programmes already launched in Italy and France, where Airbnb and local partners announced that doctors, nurses, caregivers and other medical support staff can access accommodation on Airbnb.
More than 8,000 hosts have already offered their homes in Italy and France, while some 20,000 hosts have hosted frontline staff across the world.
Patrick Robinson, director of public policy at Airbnb, said: “The entire country is behind our heroic NHS and medical staff as they battle the coronavirus outbreak.
“We have made it our priority to stand with the Airbnb community to do what we can to help.”
He added: “By working together, we can ensure that frontline workers can find a free and convenient place to stay as they continue their critical work.
“We thank our doctors and nurses across the country from the bottom of our hearts and are grateful to hosts who have already opened their homes during these difficult times.”
