Airbnb is expanding a program that allows hosts to offer their homes for free to people traveling for medical treatments.
In September, Airbnb launched the medical version of its Open Homes program, which gives patients traveling for treatments access to free housing.
Liz DeBold Fusco is with Airbnb said this is a pretty big deal for those going through serious medical issues.
"One of the hardest things about dealing with cancer is that you can’t afford to get to where you have to go,” Fusco said. “And you don’t know how you're going to pay for the room you're going to stay in. And so the goal of this program is to provide some peace of mind."
Fusco said it’s all about creating community during a difficult time. She said many of the hosts they’ve spoken to “want to go the extra mile” for the medical stay guests and make them as comfortable as possible.
The home-sharing service is adding two partners to the program, the Bone Marrow & Cancer Foundation and the Cancer Support Community, which have offices in Rochester.
Airbnb is also donating over $1.2 million in grants to these organizations to help patients and their families find housing.
Patients interested in using these services must go through a participating organization. But anyone interested in signing up their home for this service can check it out on Airbnb.
The program started in New York in 2012, after Hurricane Sandy hit, in an effort to provide temporary housing to vulnerable communities.