Workbnb Calls On Short-Term Rental Hosts to Support Hurricane Beryl Relief Workers in Houston

• Techstars-backed Workbnb sourcing emergency lodging for utility crews restoring power
• Houston officials extend disaster declaration as recovery continues after storm
• Demand for mid-term rentals increasing as more states impose regulations on short-term stays?

Las Vegas, NV (July 17, 2024) — Workbnb, a lodging platform specializing in workforce rental homes for construction workers and other workforce travelers within the skilled trades, has called on the short-term rental sector to support emergency workers operating in Houston following destruction to power lines, substations, and other critical infrastructure caused by Hurricane Beryl.

The hurricane has knocked out power to millions of homes across Houston during a summer heatwave, where officials on Monday extended a disaster declaration as recovery continues. Early damage estimates range from $28 Billion to $32 Billion dollars. Linemen and other utility engineers continue to travel to the city in hopes to speed up emergency repair work — but housing remains an issue.

The storm’s hurricane-strength winds severely impacted power infrastructure, including downing trees and electricity poles. Work is expected to continue for months, and Yeves Perez, CEO and co-founder of Workbnb, has issued an appeal to rental owners and operators to collaborate to provide suitable accommodation for the workers.?

The appeal comes as tensions rise in the city, with reports of linemen coming under attack as frustrated locals deal with ongoing power outages.?

“Housing is broken,” said Perez. “Workbnb was just in Dallas participating in the Good Soil Forum pitch competition raising awareness of the plight of essential workers, and less than a month later we are witnessing a catastrophe where linemen from 17 States are sleeping in trucks, tents or camps at staging sites.?

“I am declaring a State of Emergency for Houston’s Short-Term Rental industry and calling on citizens to pivot their empty rentals away from vacation travel and embrace workforce travel by displaying some of that world famous Southern hospitality for out-of-state lineworkers.”

One Houston-based rental operator, Tope O., recently signed up four duplex properties to Workbnb after hearing calls to support the emergency work efforts.

“Relief workers are pivotal to any recovery process, and it’s crucial that they feel supported by both their organization and the communities they serve,” said Tope O.?

“By offering my properties, I aim to ensure that these dedicated individuals have a comfortable and reliable place to stay. I encourage other rental operators to join in this effort, as our collective support can significantly enhance the effectiveness and morale of the relief teams working tirelessly to rebuild and restore our communities,” she added.

Workbnb is also in direct communication with local utility firms to fill the rentals with workers urgently. “This is our opportunity to also support the Utilities with better payment arrangements, so workers can check-in immediately to workforce rentals near staging areas and differentiate from incumbents who remain inflexible in times of crisis,” said Workbnb’s Chief Financial Officer Chris Hartshorn .

So-called workforce rentals are growing in popularity across the US. There is increased demand for housing for blue-collar workers as the U.S. government invests billions of dollars in infrastructure projects, including bridges and roads. Meanwhile the CHIPS Act and its associated subsidiaries has prompted further investment into semiconductor manufacturing, while Amazon and other technology companies up the pace of building data centers to support spiraling artificial intelligence usage.

Perez believes more rental owners are turning to mid-term rentals in order to meet this demand, as well as in response to stricter regulations imposed by a number of states clamping down on stays of under 30 nights. According to local media, some areas in Houston have been suffering from unruly behavior due to short-term renting.?????

To find out more, and to sign up to Workbnb, go to https://www.workbnbapp.com/

For media enquiries, contact Matthew Parsons , [email protected], or Yeves Perez, [email protected]