City Hall, Women’s Aid and Airbnb join forces for new pilot to support domestic abuse survivors in London

City Hall has joined forces with Women’s Aid and Airbnb for a new pilot that will provide emergency accommodation and support for domestic abuse survivors in the capital.

The pilot will provide up to 60 survivors and their children with free emergency accommodation in Airbnb listed properties across London for up to two weeks. It will also ensure survivors receive essential one-to-one support services such as legal advice, advocacy and translation and help with practicalities like transport, through leading UK charity Women’s Aid, helping them to recover and move on with their lives.

This new trial will work alongside the Mayor of London’s public health approach to tackling violence against women and girls, which champions working in partnership across all sectors, including with businesses and charities.

Across the UK, an estimated 3.8 million adults experienced domestic abuse last year^[1] and in London there were more than 90,000 cases recorded by the police in the year to August 2025^[2]. Too many of these victims and survivors have no safe place to go because there simply aren’t enough refuges. 

The Mayor is supporting the new pilot with up to £50,000, matched by a £50,000 commitment from Airbnb^[4]. 

This latest funding from the Mayor is on top of the £54 million investment he has made in his Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation (DASA) programme^[5] which has helped over 40,000 survivors of domestic abuse since it launched in 2021, including vulnerable men, women, and children from across London's communities rebuild their lives.

To mark the launch of the new pilot, the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer-Schwartz, met with senior leaders from Women’s Aid and Airbnb, in Camberwell, to see an example of the accommodation that will be provided and discuss the importance of providing survivors with the support and help they need.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I’m proud to be working with Airbnb and Women’s Aid on an innovative new pilot that will provide domestic abuse survivors, and their families, with free, emergency accommodation and the holistic support they need to recover and move forward. 

“Partnership work is a key part of my strategy to tackle violence against women and girls and I am committed to continuing to work with partners to explore innovations to ensure survivors can access the care and support they need, whilst also working with the Met to go after perpetrators of these heinous crimes.”

Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Kaya Comer Schwartz, said: “Emergency accommodation is a lifeline for families fleeing domestic violence and our partnership with Women’s Aid and Airbnb will help families get the care and support they need at a time of crisis.

“This innovative new pilot is part of the Mayor’s wide-ranging strategy to use every possible lever to tackle violence and abuse against women and girls. This includes providing the best possible support available for victims and survivors and record support for police officers to go after the most prolific offenders. It also includes long term prevention measures - including education and public awareness campaigns - to tackle deep rooted misogynistic attitudes and build a safer London for everyone.”

Farah Nazeer, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid, said: “We are excited to be working with the Mayor of London and Airbnb to provide emergency accommodation and support to women and children fleeing abuse. There is a chronic shortage of refuge spaces for those fleeing abuse and this pilot, which brings together the public, private and non-profit sectors, will be a valuable opportunity for us to see the impact that these collaborations can have.

“Systemic underfunding of specialist services has sadly meant that victims and survivors seeking support have been turned away at a point of crisis, with refuges operating a 60% refusal rate. Collaborations such as these will mean survivors now have options, instead of facing imminent homelessness or being forced to return to the abuser.

“Eradicating domestic abuse needs a whole society approach, and this coming together of three sectors is a great start to this collaboration.”

Velma Cocoran, Airbnb Director of Policy Strategy, EMEA: “We are proud to have launched our second emergency accommodation pilot in partnership with Women’s Aid and the Mayor, this time in the nation’s capital of London. We’re in the homes business and we believe everyone deserves one. This partnership uses the strength of Airbnb’s network to provide vital infrastructure to support survivors at a crucial time. The work that Women’s Aid do to support survivors of violence against women and girls is essential, and we hope this partnership helps them in achieving that mission and in keeping the communities we operate in safe.”

Women’s Aid member service who took part in the Manchester Pilot: “The Airbnb pilot was a fabulous and innovative project, offering a much-needed alternative to traditional temporary accommodation. It allowed us to safely accommodate single survivors in environments that felt more personal, comfortable, and supportive helping many to feel secure and valued at a time of crisis.

Accommodating women and children in Airbnb properties rather than standard temporary accommodation would offer a more trauma-informed, family-centred environment, providing privacy, stability, and a sense of normality that supports recovery and emotional wellbeing. Children would benefit from safer, calmer spaces and continuity in school and community links. It could significantly improve outcomes for families affected by domestic abuse if implemented with the right oversight and coordination.

“Overall, the pilot demonstrated real potential as a trauma-informed, survivor-centred housing option, and we would strongly support its continuation.”