For many Thai families, the journey to medical care does not end at the hospital door. While treatment is often supported through Thailand’s universal healthcare coverage, the cost of staying near hospitals during extended treatment can be challenging for low-income households. The Mirror Foundation, which works with underserved communities across Thailand, collaborated with Airbnb.org on its Happy Hospital program to provide free stays to help ensure that families can remain together when it matters most.
To date, this program has supported patients, family members, and caregivers through collaboration with network hospitals such as Siriraj Hospital, Ramathibodi Hospital, and the Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health. Many of these families travelled to Bangkok and other major cities for specialised care — particularly children with long-term or critical conditions — and were able to remain close to their loved ones throughout treatment, without the added worry of accommodation costs.
Founded by Airbnb in 2020, Airbnb.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free emergency housing in times of crisis, including natural disasters, residential fires, and traveling for medical treatment. Through the partnership, the Mirror Foundation books an Airbnb listing on behalf of referred families based on their needs, with Airbnb.org and its generous donors covering the cost of stays.
“When children are sent to Bangkok for treatment, their families often have to navigate factors including transportation, accommodation, and food. We would like to thank Airbnb.org and all the hosts for supporting accommodation for children travelling for treatment. This collaboration between the Mirror Foundation and Airbnb.org has helped ease both the physical and emotional challenges faced by families of children who are receiving care in hospitals” said Jamjuree Saesue, Project Head, Happy Hospital, Mirror Foundation.
“Airbnb.org was founded to help people access comfortable, temporary accommodation in times of need – at no cost to them. The Mirror Foundation had already built a program dedicated to getting children to the care that they need. We’re proud to work with them to help families in need access free, comfortable and welcoming accommodations during some of the hardest moments of their lives,” said Christine Chang, Director of Global Programs and Operations at Airbnb.org.
The Happy Hospital program reflects the Mirror Foundation’s ongoing commitment to supporting underserved communities by addressing practical challenges that can impact access to care. By working with partners such as Airbnb.org, the Foundation is able to extend its support to families navigating difficult health journeys.
