LOS ANGELES—Hoping to expand the economic benefits of home sharing to residents of South Los Angeles, Airbnb held a host recruitment event this Saturday at West Angeles Church of God in Christ.
Over a hundred potential hosts were invited to visit a series of stations where they learned about the history of the company, the economic benefits of hosting, and were given the practical tools they need to become an Airbnb host.
Attendees were also given the opportunity to listen to the stories of current members of the L.A. host community, like George McKinney who rents out a room in his East Hollywood home. “I host because it allows me to meet people from all around the world” George shared, “and the money from Airbnb helps me afford to improve the home I live in”.
Airbnb expands the economic pie for thousands of middle class Angelenos. In 2015, the typical Airbnb host in Los Angeles earned $7,000 from hosting. This income is an economic lifeline for everyday people in L.A. that are looking to make ends meet.
In a survey of Airbnb hosts in Los Angeles, 13% said that their income from hosting has prevented them from losing their home to foreclosure. And another 10% of hosts said that their income from hosting has saved them from losing their home to eviction. At that rate, nearly 3,000 Los Angeles hosts have avoided foreclosure or eviction and kept their home due to the supplemental income they make from hosting on Airbnb.
In 2015, the Airbnb community generated more than $670 million in economic activity and an estimated $920 million in economic impact in the city of Los Angeles. This is significant income for the city, and it is being spread to local businesses and across many parts of the city that don’t typically see as much tourism activity.
“I know that my community has a lot to offer…people are coming here because we are centrally located, we have all the services and goods, and we actually have a true community of people”, said West Adams resident, Daria Hall, who participated in the recruitment event. “I know a reason why Airbnb is here is because they want to encourage more people to come and see this community”.
About Airbnb:
Founded in August of 2008 and based in San Francisco, California, Airbnb is a trusted community marketplace for people to list, discover, and book unique accommodations around the world — online or from a mobile phone or tablet.
Whether an apartment for a night, a castle for a week, or a villa for a month, Airbnb connects people to unique travel experiences, at any price point, in more than 34,000 cities and 190 countries. And with world-class customer service and a growing community of users, Airbnb is the easiest way for people to monetize their extra space and showcase it to an audience of millions.
