Airbnb Opens Free Housing for Spain Wildfire Evacuees

Airbnb has activated its emergency housing programme for families displaced by wildfires in Madrid and Ávila. The non-profit is working with the Association Mensajeros de la Paz, which is coordinating with municipalities and local authorities in affected areas. Free temporary stays are being offered to eligible residents after tens of thousands of people were evacuated and Spain declared a national wildfire emergency.

Who Can Apply for Free Emergency Housing

• Programme: Airbnb emergency housing
• Area: Community of Madrid and Ávila
• Eligible residents: Primary home inside a mandatory evacuation zone
• Not eligible: Evacuation notice or warning without a mandatory order
• How to apply: Contact the Association Mensajeros de la Paz
• Identity check: An Airbnb account is required
• Cost: Free temporary accommodation
• How to help: Donate or offer discounted stays as a host

Residents must contact the Association Mensajeros de la Paz rather than booking a property directly through the usual Airbnb system. The organisation will check eligibility under the emergency response programme, confirm that the applicant’s main home lies within a mandatory evacuation zone and guide the family towards available accommodation. An Airbnb account is also required for identity verification before a stay can be arranged.

The local partnership gives displaced families another housing option while municipalities manage evacuations and emergency accommodation. It may be particularly useful for households that cannot stay with relatives or need more time before returning home. The programme does not cover people who have received only an evacuation warning, so those residents must continue using the support channels provided by local authorities.

Airbnb is also accepting donations, with all donated funds directed to emergency housing, while hosts can register to offer discounted stays. The scheme is narrow by design: it supports displaced residents whose homes are inside mandatory evacuation zones, not tourists or people under precautionary warnings. Anyone who may qualify should contact the partner organisation quickly, as accommodation depends on verification and available stays.