Where To Find Emergency Accommodation If You’re Impacted by Australia's Bushfires

Here’s who to contact.

Since the bushfire crisis began last September, 2,600 homes have been destroyed across the country, and with New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia facing extreme conditions, it is possible even more homes will be lost.

Yesterday, the NSW Government committed $1 billion to help rebuild bushfire affected communities, with money going towards repairing roads, rail lines, schools and community facilities.

The NSW Gov’t will provide $1 billion to rebuild our bushfire impacted communities across the state.This new money is in addition to the extra $231m we have already provided this bushfire season to fight the fires, picking up the clean up costs and support people impacted. pic.twitter.com/C7h2iIQviB

— Gladys Berejiklian (@GladysB) January 8, 2020

In the meantime, it is crucial that families who have lost their homes have a comfortable place to stay.

Fortunately, there are a number of websites and organisations offering free emergency accommodation to bushfire victims.

Airbnb

Accommodation provider Airbnb has activated its Open Homes program in both NSW and Victoria. Open Homes offers free, temporary housing to those in need, including relief workers, and anyone else impacted by the bushfire crisis. At the moment, the program is in action until 16 January. 

To apply for a place, you can go to Airbnb’s Open Homes portal to create a profile and view eligible listings across NSW and Victoria. Additionally, if you’d like to open your home to stranded bushfire victims, you can list it on Airbnb.

Airbnb's Open Homes Program helps communities band together in the wake of a disaster. If you’ve been displaced or are helping with relief efforts in Victoria, you can book free accommodation between 2 & 16 January 2020. For more: https://t.co/J0YiyuhbXH pic.twitter.com/i2QU2uYu1q

— EMV (@EMV_news) January 3, 2020

Find A Bed

On New Year’s Eve, writer Erin Riley started Find A Bed, a website that helps match those affected by bushfires with members of the community offering accommodation. After one week, the website had accrued 7,000 listings and housed around 100 people.

Visit the Find A Bed website to offer or request accommodation. It’s also a great option if you need somewhere to keep your pet.

Need a place to stay because of the #AustralianFires? Don't have anywhere to keep your pet? Have a bed to offer? Let us know and we'll do our best to connect you with someone that could use your help, or help you out. #NSWFires #VicFires #SouthCoastFires pic.twitter.com/Ru3PbXJ8wD

— Find A Bed (@findabedAU) January 3, 2020

Helping Homes

Another website helping bushfire victims find temporary accommodation is Helping Homes. Daniel Ferguson from Snake Valley created and launched the website last week, and there is accommodation available that can take animals and livestock.

Visit the Helping Homes website to search accommodation options.  

Camplify

Australia’s largest caravan hire and RV sharing community Camplify is also taking requests for emergency accommodation, ranging from soft floor basic camper trailers to luxury motorhomes.

To submit a request, call Camplify on 1300 416 133.

Our thoughts go out to those impacted during this incredibly challenging and devastating time. Today we've launched Camplify Disaster Relief.#BushFireCrisisAustralia #bushfireaustralia pic.twitter.com/vVHWBeJze6

— Camplify (@CamplifyTeam) January 9, 2020

Empty Houses

Empty Houses is being run by local residents from NSW’s South Coast villages. It enables holiday homeowners to contact people without a home and offer their house to them.

If that sounds like the right option for you, head to the Empty Houses website and fill out this form.

The Room Xchange

The Room Xchange is another online platform offering temporary accommodation for people who have lost their homes, free of charge. If you’d like to make a request, send an email to guest@theroomxchange.com.

Alternatively, if you’d like to offer a spare bedroom or open your home to someone, contact host@theroomxchange.com to register your interest.

Emergency Accommodation for Bushfire Victims in Australia. If you have a spare room and can help out, or are in need of emergency accommodation let me know. @TheRoomXchange can help.
Pls retweet. #firevictims #bushfires #Australia #emergencyaccommodation https://t.co/eMUukGiQ1v pic.twitter.com/OsYSWOyC0o

— The Room Xchange (@TheRoomXchange) January 7, 2020

Apart from these websites and organisations, there are also Facebook groups that have been created so people can offer temporary accommodation. For example, if you are located in Canberra, you might want to check out this group.

Remember to stay vigilant if you are in a fire-prone area, and if you are told to leave, evacuate immediately. 

Header Image: Darrian Traynor / Stringer / Getty Images News via Getty Images