Key Takeaways
- Airbnb is announcing $150,000 in community investments to four local organizations in New Orleans.
- These investments will support youth, education, and housing programs across the city.
Airbnb is announcing $150,000 in community investments to support youth, education, and housing programs in New Orleans. This investment is part of a broader slate of community support Airbnb is advancing in New Orleans in 2026, including continued partnerships with local nonprofit organizations and upcoming community and volunteer engagement this spring.
Donations will go to four local organizations providing critical services and opportunities in New Orleans:
- unCommon Construction, a nonprofit that empowers youth with the skills, network, resources, and experience to lead the workforce through a construction apprenticeship program, while building homes in the New Orleans area.
- Hotel Hope, a nonprofit organization that provides housing, support, and hope to women and children experiencing homelessness.
- Algiers Charter School Association, a community-based charter network. This donation will support updates to L. B. Landry College and Career Preparatory High School, a charter high school on the west bank of New Orleans.
- Son of a Saint, a nonprofit founded in 2011 to support young men through mentorship, emotional support, development of life skills, and exposure to constructive experiences.
“We’re proud to deepen our commitment to the New Orleans community, a city defined by resilience and creativity. These investments reflect Airbnb’s belief that supporting youth opportunity, education, and stable housing helps strengthen neighborhoods for everyone. We look forward to continuing partnerships that support local organizations and the people they serve.”
Laura Spanjian, Director of Global Policy, Airbnb
“This investment in our community will be felt throughout the city through the nonprofit partners Airbnb has chosen. We’re honored and excited to partner with Airbnb, a nationally recognized leader in the hospitality space as they ensure that the cities they serve are collectively and collaboratively supported. The authenticity and genuine approach of Airbnb is emblematic of their intention to find long-term relationships in the communities they serve. We are so appreciative of their support and look forward to the future of this relationship.”
Bivian “Sonny” Lee III, Founder and CEO, Son of a Saint
“We’re so grateful for Airbnb’s generous support and can’t wait to put it to work together at our Spring 2026 Community Build Day. It’s partnerships like this that show how young people’s skills—teamwork, communication, and leadership—translate directly into careers and stronger communities.”
Aaron Frumin, Founder and CEO, unCommon Construction
“Airbnb’s investment is a meaningful vote of confidence in the future of our young people and in the historic Algiers community. With this contribution, Algiers Charter School Association was able to purchase a new wrap for our athletics field. This upgrade strengthens school pride, enhances the look and feel of our campus, and creates a more welcoming space for our student athletes. We are grateful for Airbnb’s support here in New Orleans and for helping us continue building environments where students can thrive on the field, in the classroom, and beyond.”
Dr. Tammi Griffin-Major, CEO, Algiers Charter School Association
“We are incredibly thankful for Airbnb’s generosity and belief in our mission. This donation is more than financial support—it is a powerful affirmation that our work matters and that our families are not alone. Partnerships like this allow us to extend hospitality, healing, and hope to those who need it most.”
Sister Mary Lou Specha, PBVM, Executive Director, Hotel Hope
About Airbnb in New Orleans
Home sharing is an economic lifeline for many New Orleans residents to earn extra money and help keep up with rising costs of living. In New Orleans, over 80 percent of hosts say hosting on Airbnb allows them to meet rising costs of living, and more than 60 percent confirm hosting has helped them stay in their home.1
The median host in New Orleans earned approximately $18,000 from hosting in 2024, helping locals pay their mortgages, manage rising insurance costs, and even stay in their homes.2
1 According to a 2023 survey of hosts in New Orleans
2 According to Airbnb data for 2024, where typical refers to the median
Featured image photo credit: Ashley Lorraine Photography
About Son of a Saint
Son of a Saint launched in 2011 to address the burgeoning problem of fatherless boys in the New Orleans area. Under the direction of Bivian “Sonny” Lee III, the 501(c)(3) organization is dedicated to its mission of transforming the lives of young males through mentorship, emotional support, development of life skills, exposure to constructive experiences and formation of positive, lasting peer-to-peer relationships. For more information or to get involved, visit www.sonofasaint.org.
About unCommon Construction
unCommon Construction (uCC) is a nonprofit that empowers youth with the skills, network, resources, and experience to lead the workforce. Through our construction apprenticeship program, students earn hourly pay, high school credits, and scholarships by working alongside a diverse team of other students, educators, and industry professionals to build a house or other construction project. Along the way, apprentices gain valuable professional and leadership skills, and access to industry networks. Since its founding in 2015, uCC has partnered with more than 20 public schools and youth-serving organizations in two cities (New Orleans and Minneapolis), and created over 550 apprenticeships that have collectively earned over $600,000 in net pay and Equity Award scholarships. To learn more, please visit our website at http://www.uncommonconstruction.org, or our social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn (@uncommonconstruction).
About Algiers Charter School Association
Algiers Charter is a proud community-built and community-driven charter school network dedicated to empowering students through educational excellence. Our mission is to equip every student with the knowledge, skills, and values they need to succeed in college, career, and life. Rooted in the historic Algiers neighborhood, we operate two esteemed schools: L.B. Landry High School and Martin Behrman Charter Elementary School.
About Hotel Hope
Hotel Hope is a nonprofit, interfaith organization that provides housing to women and their children in a safe and loving atmosphere while guiding them to self-sufficiency and self- empowerment through intensive case management.
About Airbnb
Airbnb was born in 2007 when two hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to over 5 million hosts who have welcomed over 2 billion guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, hosts offer unique stays, experiences, and services that make it possible for guests to connect with communities in a more authentic way.