Airbnb announces donation and partnership with CHAPA

Airbnb to Work with Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association to Advance Pro-Housing Reforms as Part of Larger Airbnb Housing Accelerator Launch

Beyond Airbnb’s investment in building more housing, we understand that money alone cannot solve the housing crisis. Durable change requires modernizing the rules that make it too expensive, too slow, and too difficult to build. As part of Airbnb’s Housing Accelerator program, Airbnb announced new partnerships with local organizations across the country fighting to enact pro-housing reforms — zoning, permitting, impact fee, and building code changes. 

In Massachusetts, Airbnb will partner with Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), a statewide nonprofit that encourages the production and preservation of housing for low and moderate-income families and individuals. CHAPA has helped local communities adopt zoning reforms that have contributed to more than 1,400 new homes across Massachusetts. During the 2025-2026 legislative session, CHAPA was the leading voice for housing production policy reforms, including provisions that make it easier for faith-based organizations to build affordable multifamily housing on land they already own and establishing statewide standards to prevent local permitting delays from blocking housing. CHAPA also plans to expand its town-by-town organizing model to build local support and political capacity for housing and zoning reform across the state.

Every community is different, with different challenges, opportunities, and barriers to expanding quality housing options. That’s why Airbnb will partner and bolster local leaders on the ground who are advocating for housing solutions that work for their city or state, including reduced permitting timelines, increased density allowances, and limits on upfront impact fees. More information on these and other policy solutions is available in The Airbnb Housing Accelerator: Tackling the Housing Crisis, a new report issued today highlighting reforms that make housing more available and affordable.

“In addition to investing directly in building more housing, Airbnb is proud to partner with organizations on the ground, like CHAPA, that are fighting to change the rules to make it possible and more cost effective to build more housing in more places. Through partnerships like this,  we can help address local housing challenges while creating stronger, more resilient communities,” said Daniel Hornung, Director of the Airbnb Housing Accelerator. 

“Communities across Massachusetts are working to build support for more housing, but residents and local leaders need the right tools to turn that support into results,” said Eric Shupin, Chief Executive Officer of Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA). “Through programs like the Municipal Engagement Initiative and Massachusetts Housing Leadership Academy, CHAPA helps communities build local coalitions, develop housing leaders, and advance practical solutions. Airbnb’s support will help us bring this hands-on assistance and peer learning to more cities and towns working to create homes people can afford.”