KarunaNews Story

Empty Airbnbs will be used to house domestic abuse survivors for no cost under a new pilot scheme that is being launched in an undisclosed area of England. Listings on Airbnb will provide temporary accommodation for victims when refuge spaces are not available. Airbnb’s new initiative, launched with leading domestic abuse charity Women’s Aid, will include safety measures to ensure victims remain safe – including a specialized booking mechanism which allows survivors to remain anonymous. Survivors will be able to access continuous support from specialists while staying at the properties. Data from the Office for National Statistics shows around six in 10 women fleeing domestic violence who sought a space in a refuge in England between April 2022 and March 2023 were denied a place.