On Saturday, June 30, the Airbnb host community gathered to launch the first Home Sharing Club in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with a day of service. The events took place in the underserved neighborhoods of La Perla and Alto del Cabro, which have struggled to rebuild after Hurricane Maria in September 2017.

All around the globe, Home Sharing Clubs led by Airbnb hosts allow users of the platform to share their homens and experiences, and give back to their local communities through service projects.

In San Juan, hosts had the opportunity to strengthen their communities as part of the mission of giving back, installing solar-powered street lamps and painting homes

Hosts used the gathering as an opportunity to discuss the impact home-sharing has played in their lives, and the opportunities it provides them.

“As residents [of San Juan] the money we earn from Airbnb is helping us to pay our mortgages and support local businesses,” said Margarita Díaz, a superhost who has lived in the neighborhood of Old San Juan for over a decade.

The solar-powered outdoor lights were donated by Airbnb and installed at entry points in Alto del Cabro, and on main streets in La Perla. Hosts also helped put a fresh coat of paint on some of the areas surrounding the central plaza.