- Collaboration between the Municipality of Athens and Airbnb.org offers free emergency housing for Cycladic families displaced by earthquakes.
- Affected residents can seek temporary accommodation in Athens by calling the emergency hotline 1595.
- Initial shelter provided to 130 individuals in municipal camps expanded to include 200 families in Airbnb rentals.
- Eligible families receive housing credits for a 10-day stay, covered entirely by Airbnb.org.
- Hosts can offer accommodation through Airbnb.org to support the initiative.
A City’s Response to Earthquake Despair
The ground shakes, leaving cracks not just beneath houses but in the lives of families staring into nothingness. The Cycladic islands—places of sun and sea—are now marked by upheaval. A home isn’t just bricks falling to ruins; it’s safety lost, where dreams once quietly grew.
The Municipality of Athens, partnering with Airbnb.org, has stepped forward. Together, they’ve created a lifeline for families displaced by the earthquakes. Free emergency housing in Athens offers a chance to breathe again, to sleep without walls quivering in the night’s silence.
In Santorini, Amorgos, Anafi, and Ios, those who’ve seen their lives collapse can call 1595. That’s the emergency line where hope begins. Athens absorbs the stories of strangers, turning them into guests. They’re met with care and answers as the city connects them to Airbnb.org for free temporary stays.
The initiative, financed entirely by Airbnb.org and powered by community generosity, allows families to start anew. The solution isn’t perfect, nothing can be in devastation’s shadow; but it matters. It pulls people off the brink, even just for ten days, in a place they don’t have to fear.
Relief Extended Beyond Emergency Camps
The story began with quick action. The Municipality of Athens mobilized fast in the crisis. Childcare camps in Agios Andreas became sanctuaries, making room for 130 individuals in the immediate aftermath. Yet the need outpaced space, and another effort sprang forth.
Partnering with Airbnb.org is more than symbolic. It’s practical. Anyone arriving in Athens with shattered stories can secure housing under this joint initiative. Two hundred families now have places to stay, sheltered under borrowed roofs scattered across the city.
Families, once cleared, receive housing credits via email. These allow for bookings at no cost in Airbnb rentals for an initial period of 10 days. Both sides, the hosts and organizers, reassess needs as days stretch on, recognizing that crises don’t end on a fixed timeline.
How You Can Step In to Help Cycladic Families
Every family held together means people and places stood up behind them. That’s not the privilege of governments alone. Athens continues collecting those displaced, but community hands widen how far the support can go.
Anyone with an Airbnb listing, or even just a little extra space, can play a role. Hosts have the option to sign up through Airbnb.org and provide free or discounted shelter to those breathing deeply, rebuilding what cannot be replaced. During this time, any booking made under Airbnb.org bears no service fees.
Collaboration isn’t just paper. It’s people showing up when they’re needed most.
For information in Greek, visit the Municipality of Athens’ official announcement: City of Athens.
