IOM and Airbnb.org mobilise shelter for Jamaicans displaced by Hurricane Melissa

Geneva/Kingston, 14 November 2025  – The International Organization for Migration (IOM UN Migration) and Airbnb.org, a nonprofit founded by Airbnb that connects people to free emergency housing in times of crisis, are partnering to provide free emergency stays for displaced families and frontline responders affected by Hurricane Melissa in Jamaica, a storm that has left a trail of destruction across the Caribbean. 

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Jamaica on 29 October as a Category 5 storm – the first to hit the Caribbean nation. The record-breaking storm battered Jamaica, then tore through Cuba and Haiti with torrential rainfall, life-threatening storm surges, and landslides that triggered widespread flooding and displacement. In Jamaica, over 400,000 people are living in inadequate housing, including an estimated 2,487 who remain sheltered in collective emergency centres. 

“When homes are destroyed, it’s not just walls that crumble – it’s people’s sense of safety and belonging,” said Amy Pope, IOM Director General. “Partnerships like this ensure families can find comfort and dignity, even amid chaos. We are grateful to Airbnb.org and to every host who has opened their doors to those in need.” 

As communities begin to recover, finding safe places to stay has become an urgent priority. Through this partnership, IOM and Airbnb.org will help provide free, temporary housing over the coming weeks and months for families displaced by the hurricane, ensuring they have a safe place to rest as recovery and rebuilding continue. 

Airbnb.org has committed to providing free, temporary housing for displaced essential government workers delivering services to affected communities, and for vulnerable displaced individuals, including older persons, women, and children, for up to 2,000 nights. These stays are free for beneficiaries and funded by Airbnb.org and the generosity of donors. IOM is working directly with government officials and Airbnb.org to identify people in need and connect them to a free place to stay. 

IOM is on the ground, working closely with the Government of Jamaica and regional partners to respond to the growing humanitarian needs of communities affected by Hurricane Melissa. The Organization is dispatching 4,470 emergency relief items from its warehouse in Barbados to support affected families. These include tarpaulins, ropes, shelter repair kits, generators, air mattresses, hygiene kits, solar lamps, and bedding sets. 

To ensure assistance reaches those most in need, the supplies are being distributed in partnership with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) in Jamaica, prioritizing people in the hardest-hit parishes so they can receive urgent shelter and household support as recovery efforts gain pace. 

At the same time, IOM is leveraging its data tools to strengthen the response. Through its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), IOM has launched a dedicated Latin America and Caribbean Pre-Evacuation Platform to map and update evacuation centres across Jamaica and neighbouring islands. The Organization is also sharing data and maps showing the hurricane’s path and shelter locations with partners to inform their response. 

The collaboration between IOM and Airbnb.org builds on several years of partnership supporting displaced communities worldwide. Since 2019, the two organizations have worked together to connect tens of thousands of displaced people to temporary housing, including those affected by crises in Ukraine, Venezuela, and Türkiye. 

For more information, please visit IOM’s Media Centre. 

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This news was first published by IOM UN Migration.