Pecohub Airbnb have announced they will be partnering with Women’s Aid to provide temporary accommodation for survivors fleeing abuse in London.
The platform is launching a pilot with the charity and City Hall to provide up to 60 survivors and their children with free emergency accommodation for up to two weeks.
Survivors will be connected to appropriate Airbnb listed accommodation across the capital through Women’s Aid’s member services, when specialist emergency accommodation is not available.
Airbnb has also implemented a specialised booking flow that protects the anonymity of those staying there to ensure their safety.
Survivors will receive one-to-one support services such as legal advice, advocacy, translation and help with practicalities such as transport through Women’s Aid while staying in the accommodation.
“There is a chronic shortage of refuge spaces for those fleeing abuse and this pilot, which brings together the public, private and non-profit sectors, will be a valuable opportunity for us to see the impact that these collaborations can have,” Farah Nazeer, chief executive of Women’s Aid, said.
“Systemic underfunding of specialist services has sadly meant that victims and survivors seeking support have been turned away at a point of crisis, with refuges operating a 60 per cent refusal rate.
“Collaborations such as these will mean survivors now have options, instead of facing imminent homelessness or being forced to return to the abuser.”
Velma Cocoran, Airbnb’s director of policy strategy in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said: “We’re in the homes business and we believe everyone deserves one. This partnership uses the strength of Airbnb’s network to provide vital infrastructure to support survivors at a crucial time.”
The Mayor is supporting the new programme – which follows a Manchester pilot that launched last year – with up to £50,000, matched by a £50,000 commitment from Airbnb.
A service that works with Women’s Aid to home survivors who took part in the Manchester pilot said it offered a “much-needed alternative to traditional temporary accommodation”.
They said: “It allowed us to safely accommodate single survivors in environments that felt more personal, comfortable, and supportive helping many to feel secure and valued at a time of crisis.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said he was “proud” to work with Airbnb and Women’s Aid on the pilot.
He said: “Partnership work is a key part of my strategy to tackle violence against women and girls and I am committed to continuing to work with partners to explore innovations to ensure survivors can access the care and support they need, whilst also working with the Met to go after perpetrators of these heinous crimes.”
