FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2026
Bell Gardens, Calif. — 211 LA, in partnership with Airbnb.org, is coordinating emergency housing assistance for families displaced following an explosion at a four-unit apartment complex in the City of Bell Gardens on Tuesday evening, January 28, 2026.
All four units sustained major damage, displacing 28 individuals, including 21 adults and 7 children. Local authorities have confirmed that residents will not be able to safely return to the property in the near term, and access to retrieve personal belongings is expected to remain restricted for several days.
Airbnb.org—a nonprofit founded by Airbnb to provide emergency housing in times of crisis—is working with 211LA 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 is coordinating intake, eligibility screening, and placement to ensure households are connected to safe, temporary accommodations as quickly as possible.
Residents impacted by the Bell Gardens explosion are encouraged to contact 211 LA for support. By dialing 2-1-1, individuals and families can be connected to emergency housing assistance, recovery resources, and ongoing care coordination as needs evolve.
This comes after a recent announcement by 211LA and Airbnb.org, establishing a formal partnership to accelerate access to temporary housing for people displaced by disasters across Los Angeles County, after more than a year of joint efforts, including a response launched within 24 hours of the start of the Palisades and Eaton wildfires in January 2025.
This response also follows outreach to 211 LA by the Los Angeles Red Cross External Relations team, marking the second time emergency shelter support has been requested through 211 LA for displaced households. On December 30, 2025, during the winter holiday period, 211 LA supported 30 households affected by an emergency housing displacement.
“Access to stable shelter is critical after a sudden and traumatic event,” said Maribel Marin, Executive Director, 211 LA. “Through our coordination with Airbnb.org, we are able to respond quickly and help impacted households take the next steps toward safety and recovery.”
“When disaster hits, California families need quick solutions. Through our partnership with 211LA, we can quickly respond in critical moments like these, providing comfortable, temporary housing near workplaces, schools, and support networks for people in need,” said Christoph Gorder, Executive Director, Airbnb.org
This response reflects the ongoing partnership between 211 LA and Airbnb.org to deliver emergency housing support during disasters. By working together, this partnership helps ensure displaced residents can access secure, temporary housing when it matters most.
How it works
Airbnb.org works with local organizations to help identify those in greatest need of emergency housing. 211LA are identifying residents in need of temporary housing and referring them to Airbnb.org. Impacted individuals are then granted credits from Airbnb.org to book a nearby Airbnb stay that meets their needs—often close to their workplaces, schools, or support networks. Residents impacted can request temporary housing support by contacting 2-1-1.
How to help
Anyone interested in supporting those impacted can visit Airbnb.org to either:
- Sign up to offer free or discounted stays as an Airbnb.org host (Airbnb makes no money on these stays), or
- Donate to Airbnb.org—100% of donations go directly toward connecting people in crisis with emergency housing.
To support 211 LA operations and help amplify its work responding to emergencies and supporting recovery across Los Angeles County, donations can be made by visiting 211la.org.
###
About 211 LA
211 LA is the hub for community members and community organizations looking for all types 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 public 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 to more than 250,000 people in nearly 140 countries around the world.
Media Contact
Gilbert Zavala
Communications Director
