The platform and the Caribbean Emergency Management Agency will coordinate temporary shelter for people displaced by hurricanes and other emergencies in 20 countries in the region
SANTO DOMINGO – Just weeks before the start of the most active hurricane season of the year, the humanitarian organization Airbnb.org and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) announced a regional agreement to provide free emergency shelter to people affected by hurricanes and other natural disasters in the Caribbean.
According to information released by both entities, the alliance will allow for the faster mobilization of temporary accommodation options for displaced communities in the 20 member countries of CDEMA, one of the main regional organizations responsible for coordinating disaster response.
The agreement seeks to address one of the most critical needs following the impact of natural phenomena: immediate access to temporary housing for families who lose their homes or must be evacuated.
Free accommodation during emergencies
According to Airbnb.org, the organization will use Airbnb's technological infrastructure to connect affected people with available accommodations, allowing families to access temporary housing at no cost during the early stages of an emergency.
The initiative includes accommodations with features adapted to the needs of displaced people, including spaces with kitchens, laundry facilities, and options that allow pets.
The mechanism will be coordinated through a memorandum of understanding signed with CDEMA, an institution that will be responsible for identifying, together with local authorities, the people who require immediate housing assistance after a disaster.
According to Christoph Gorder, CEO of Airbnb.org, the organization has provided approximately 1,500 nights of emergency accommodation in the Caribbean since 2020 following events such as hurricanes Fiona, Beryl, and Melissa.
The Caribbean prepares for a new hurricane season
CDEMA's executive director, Elizabeth Riley, explained that the agreement strengthens regional disaster response capabilities and expands the tools available to assist affected populations during extreme weather events.
The alliance comes in a context of growing climate vulnerability in the Caribbean, a region that faces threats associated with hurricanes, tropical storms, floods and other natural phenomena every year.
Regional authorities consider the availability of temporary accommodation to be one of the main challenges during the first few days after an emergency, especially when there are mass displacements of the population.
Safety guide for the season
As part of the announced measures, the platform also reported that it developed a hurricane safety guide in collaboration with CDEMA and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), aimed at residents, hosts and visitors of the region.
The document brings together recommendations on hurricane preparedness, response and recovery, including preventative measures before a storm, safety protocols during the event and guidelines for returning to affected communities.
According to the company, the material will be distributed among hosts in different Caribbean countries with the aim of strengthening community preparedness and facilitating access to emergency information during the 2026 hurricane season.
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