Residents of Aventura, Sunny Isles Beach and surrounding communities displaced by hurricanes, fires or other emergencies can now access free temporary Airbnb accommodations while they find permanent housing.
Airbnb.org, the nonprofit arm of Airbnb, announced Thursday, Aug. 27, a partnership with Jewish Community Services of South Florida (JCS) and Volunteer Florida to connect displaced individuals and families with shelter at no cost. WLRN first reported the new program.
JCS, an Aventura-based nonprofit that serves people of all faiths, operates the 211 Miami helpline. Residents of Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties forced from their homes can call 211 at any time. JCS staff will determine eligibility and connect callers to an available Airbnb listing.
"When there is a disaster and you say to yourself, 'where am I gonna sleep tonight?' we'll answer that call 24 hours a day, seven days a week in multiple languages," Yolanda Valencia, an executive committee member of JCS, told WLRN.
The helpline operates 24/7 in English, Spanish and Creole, according to 211 Miami's website.
Eligible residents are not limited to local listings. They can stay at any participating Airbnb property anywhere in the country. Average stays range from 10 to 28 days, according to Christine Chang, director of Global Programs and Operations for Airbnb.org.
Chang told WLRN the program covers emergencies of any scale. A single apartment fire that displaces one family qualifies, not just large-scale hurricanes.
Volunteer Florida, the state's lead agency for volunteerism and disaster response, will refer people within its network to Airbnb.org when other shelter space is unavailable.
Airbnb.org previously housed Floridians displaced by Hurricanes Milton and Helene in 2024. The nonprofit has provided more than 1.6 million nights of free emergency housing to over 250,000 people worldwide since its founding in 2020, according to Inside Philanthropy, citing 2025 data.
Dolly Duran, an Airbnb host with a property in Broward County who participates in the shelter program, told WLRN she has watched storms displace people and wanted to help.
JCS serves more than 100,000 clients per year across South Florida. Its 211 Miami database lists over 4,000 programs and resources covering food assistance, legal help, homeless shelters and financial aid.
The call is simple. Dial 211 from any phone in Miami-Dade or Monroe County at any hour.
Upcoming community dates
- Tuesday, Sept. 1 — Deadline for Sunny Isles Beach veterans honor wall nominations.
- Tuesday, Sept. 8 — Aventura planning agency holds its first meeting after summer break.
