Airbnb is continuing its effort to help those displaced by Tropical Storm Harvey.
The short-term rental service said Tuesday it is expanding its disaster response program.
Before the hurricane struck Texas as a Category 4 hurricane late last week, the company announced it would give Airbnb hosts in surrounding areas the opportunity to offer free housing to those who may need it. The program, originally planned to run until September 1, will now continue through September 25.
Airbnb is also rolling out the effort to more neighborhoods in Houston, which has been significantly impacted by flooding. It has also extended the effort to more zones in Austin and Dallas.
Tropical Storm Harvey is expected to displace about 30,000 residents, but 450,000 people are projected to seek some form of relief as a result of the natural disaster.
Airbnb’s disaster response program, which launched in 2012 in response to Hurricane Sandy, relies on the graciousness of local hosts opening up their homes to strangers. The company emails hosts in areas close to disaster zones about the program, giving them the option to add their listing to its program database. So far, there are roughly 340 listings posted for Harvey evacuees.
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Originally written by Sara Ashley O’Brien