Healthcare heroes like you are brushing aside fear to care for your patients and clients—under the most difficult and extenuating circumstances. On the front line for hours every day, you’ve fortified your commitment to keeping your patients alive and your communities safe.

In this unprecedented moment in modern history, we want to provide you with another resource to support you as a frontline healthcare worker.

That’s why 1199SEIU and Airbnb have partnered to provide temporary alternative housing for our members who are on the front line and caring for COVID-19 patients. We’ve created a program that allows you to book free temporary alternative housing during this crisis. That’s right, without any cost to you!  (The program is not available to family and friends, or to 1199 members who tested positive for COVID-19 or are quarantined.)

If you are an 1199 member who needs to be closer to your workplace or your clients, you can sign up for temporary alternative housing by sending an email to: airbnbopenhomes@1199.org.  Only 1199 members, not family and friends, are eligible to sign up for this program.

It’s easy:

• Tell us your full name, name of your employer and actual work facility, email and phone number. 
• Once we receive your email, 1199 will forward it to the Airbnb portal.
• You will receive an email providing access to book directly on their site. 
• You will be asked to tell us the state where you work. The program is open to 1199 members in all of our regions; New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland/DC and Florida.  Note that the default setting is New York—please remember to enter your state!
• You will be asked to tell us your zip code.  Don’t forget to enter the zipcode for your job location— and not your home address, in order to find housing near your job.

The listings will include temporary alternative housing in private homes with separate entrances, motels, and hotels. If you reserve a room at a hotel or motel, you will not be charged for taxes.  However, you will be asked for a credit card to cover incidentals.  

The availability and type of temporary housing on the Airbnb website varies among geographical locations.

Hosts will offer self check-in or reduced contact during key exchange.  They will not enter the reserved premises or room during the stay.   

Guest must comply with all of the eligibility criteria agreed in writing with Airbnb (email to be sufficient), which will include at least one of the following: (i) working extended or extra shifts caring for COVID-19 patients and will require housing in close proximity to their workplace; (ii) distancing themselves from family or roommates, particularly if elderly or immunocompromised, for their and/or Guest’s protection; or (iii) responding to COVID-19 in a location that is not near their home.
 
The information provided about the Airbnb Open House program is for informational purposes only.  Airbnb is independently offering 1199SEIU members who are servicing COVID-19 patients the opportunity to participate in the Airbnb Open House program.  Participation is strictly voluntary and 1199SEIU is not a party to any rental agreement/reservation.  1199SEIU does not make any representations or warranties regarding any aspect of the Airbnb Open House program including, but not limited to, the selection of Host’s premises and properties or the condition or cleanliness of the properties offered by Airbnb’s Hosts to 1199SEIU members.   All questions and complaints concerning reservations through the Airbnb Open House program should be directed to the Airbnb Customer on their portal.