FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2026
To support people impacted by a warehouse fire in Boyle Heights, Airbnb.org, a nonprofit founded by Airbnb, is working with 211 LA, a nonprofit serving as LA County’s 24/7 information and referral service provider, to offer free emergency housing to displaced residents. Stays are free for guests and are funded by Airbnb.org and the generosity of donors.
211 LA Activation and Response
After the warehouse fire and ammonia leak in Boyle Heights, 211 LA quickly stepped in to help affected households. On June 19, 211 LA received a standby notification from the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management at 7:01 PM. Staff immediately came together to set up systems, prepare agents, and coordinate with partners. By the time the official activation came at 11:08 PM, 211 LA was already responding to calls. Staff worked overnight to make sure anyone calling 2-1-1 could quickly get the help and guidance they needed.
As calls came in, the team worked to confirm information, update guidance, and connect residents to verified distribution sites for masks, air purifiers, and other relief supplies in coordination with City and County partners.
So far, 211 LA has handled over 1,500 calls about the Boyle Heights warehouse fire. Of those, 970 were related to masks, air purifiers, or smoke relief sites, and 200 callers were referred to Airbnb.org for temporary housing.
Although the fire is now out thanks to the Los Angeles Fire Department, many impacted community members still need support, supplies, and reliable information. 211 LA continues to help connect residents to the resources they need.
Thanks to a partnership with Airbnb.org, part of 211 LA’s Crisis Care Plan Alliance, the team has been able to offer emergency housing to residents with urgent needs, including older adults, people with respiratory conditions, families with children, infants, and households with pets. Airbnb.org provided housing to people with medical conditions who could not stay in the local area for their safety because of the smoke and fumes.
How it works
Airbnb.org works with local organizations to identify people in the greatest need of emergency housing following a disaster or crisis. Through this response, 211 LA is identifying eligible Boyle Heights residents impacted by the warehouse fire and referring them to Airbnb.org for temporary emergency housing support.
Once referred, eligible individuals may receive credits from Airbnb.org to book a temporary Airbnb stay that meets their needs, including stays near their workplace, school, family, or support network.
During an activation, residents can dial 2-1-1 to get help navigating available resources, including Airbnb.org housing credits if available. 211 LA also connects callers to confirmed distribution centers, smoke relief sites, and other support in coordination with County partners.
To support people impacted by the Boyle Heights warehouse fire, community members have two ways to help:
Donate to Airbnb.org, where 100% of donations go directly toward connecting people in crisis with emergency housing. Visit Airbnb.org to give.
Donate to 211 LA, which has been tracking resident needs and working with community partners to rapidly deploy supplies to those unable to secure what they need. Visit 211LA.org to give.
Ongoing partnership
This response builds on Airbnb.org and 211 LA’s ongoing partnership to help people displaced by disasters across Los Angeles County access temporary housing. Since formalizing the partnership in January, the two nonprofits have worked together to provide emergency housing support for people impacted by local disasters, including the Bell Gardens apartment complex explosion and the Palisades and Eaton wildfires, which displaced thousands of residents in January 2025.
The partnership is also part of 211 LA’s broader Crisis Care Plan Alliance (CCPA) Partnership, which strengthens coordinated crisis response and helps connect people to timely, trusted support during emergencies.
About 211 LA
211 LA is the hub for community members and organizations seeking a wide range of health, human, and social services in Los Angeles County. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, 211 LA has served the people of Los Angeles County since 1981, helping residents navigate the most challenging crises, from homelessness to the COVID-19 pandemic to the devastating LA wildfires.
About Airbnb.org
Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization founded by Airbnb that connects people to free emergency housing in times of crisis. Airbnb.org pays for stays, leverages the Airbnb platform, and taps into Airbnb's global community of hosts willing to share their homes with those in need. Airbnb covers all Airbnb.org's operating costs and makes no money on Airbnb.org stays. This means 100% of donations directly fund stays for people in need of emergency housing. Since 2020, Airbnb.org has provided 1.6 million nights of free, temporary housing in nearly 140 countries around the world.
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Media Contact
Gilbert Zavala
Communications Director
media.requests@211la.org
