New Jersey Airbnb Hosts Push for Economic Relief as Travel Industry Hurts from COVID-19 Impacts

Hosts nationwide have submitted tens of thousands of messages to their Members of Congress and Senators in the last 48 hours to ask for support

WASHINGTON, DC — As negotiations continue on emergency economic relief measures to help Americans and industries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, this weekend Airbnb hosts — including many in New Jersey — urged federal lawmakers to include measures to support them through the ongoing crisis. In total, hosts nationwide have sent more than 40,000 messages to their Members of Congress and Senators.

The US Travel Association projects that decreased travel due to COVID-19 will inflict an $809 billion hit on the US economy and eliminate 4.6 million travel-related American jobs this year. With home sharing now comprising an estimated 10% of US consumer spending on overnight stays, the impacts of this economic crisis will be felt by everyday people who share their assets on Airbnb.

The advocacy by hosts comes after Chris Lehane, Airbnb’s Vice President of Policy and Communications, sent a letter to federal lawmakers last week urging them to consider measures to financially support Airbnb hosts during this time of crisis and recovery.

“Twelve years ago, the federal government stepped in to help the auto and banking industries for the sake of our broader economy, but didn’t provide similar support for everyday people. Since the financial crisis, and in part because of its lasting fallout, millions of Americans turned to online marketplaces such as Airbnb to help them get by,” Lehane said. “Let’s show we have learned the lessons from that last crisis and make sure that this time, financial support goes to the everyday Americans and small business owners that power the American economy, and not just the large corporations.”

In a memo attached to the letter sent to lawmakers, the company highlighted:

• more than half of hosts (53%) said their Airbnb income helped them stay in their homes;

• half of hosts surveyed (49%) said they were hosting on Airbnb to help make ends meet;

• nearly one in five (18%) said hosting on Airbnb helped them avoid eviction or foreclosure;

• 58% of hosts in the US are women;

• Americans aged 60 and older, many of whom live on fixed incomes, account for nearly one in every five of all US hosts; and

• 14% of US hosts said they or someone in their household is an educator.

“We want to ensure help gets directly to the hundreds of thousands of Americans who keep our growing travel industry humming and depend on income earned on Airbnb to make ends meet,” Lehane said. “These are the small business owners and solo entrepreneurs – many of them women, seniors and teachers – who are vital to their local economies and now struggling because of this crisis. They do not have legacy brands with thousands of shareholders to answer to or massive assets to fall back on, and without relief from Congress they will continue to suffer.”

To help hosts, the company is asking lawmakers to make sure the third COVID-19 economic package includes, among other measures, clarifying SBA loan eligibility requirements to include short-term rental and Experiences hosts, and adding unemployment assistance measures that ensure hosts are eligible for relief.

Below are some of the stories shared with Airbnb and lawmakers out of New Jersey. (Note: Additional stories from across the state are available upon request.)

“As an Airbnb host I rely on this business to aid in my financial responsibilities and to feed my family. This pandemic and travel ban has hindered my business and is making it difficult for ends to meet.”- Monique, Delmar, New Jersey

“At 76, I need the income from AirBnB to retain the house I live in.  It is a job I can enjoy & also earn needed money by doing. I have zero money coming in from this source now & for the foreseeable future.  Financial assistance would be very helpful.”- Grace, Jersey City, New Jersey

“I share the spare room in my apartment with travelers. My partner and I rely tremendously on put air bnb, since he was laid off from his job over a year ago to pay the mortgage. I am concerned about our income. All bookings through June have been canceled and post June is such an unknown that there is no clear return of travelers or the income they bring. We are facing a tremendous predicament. My partner and I can’t rely on Airbnb income and cant look to alternative forms of supplemental income because of the quarantine. We are wrecked about what we are going to do to make ends meet without many options to choose from.”- Viannca, Jersey City, New Jersey

###