Airbnb was born in Texas in 2006 when two hosts inflated three airbeds, 20 years later Airbnb is spending millions to build 200-plus housing units in Austin

Airbnb started with three airbeds and a simple idea to help pay the rent. Nearly 20 years later, the company is putting millions of dollars into housing in Austin, Texas. Last month, Airbnb announced a $6.4 million investment in a project that will support the construction of 201 affordable housing units in the city. The investment is part of the company's new Housing Accelerator programme, which Airbnb says will combine funding, policy changes and new ideas to help build more homes. The Austin project is the first local housing investment under the programme.How Airbnb went from three airbeds to a housing projectAirbnb says its story began when two hosts inflated three airbeds and created a website to help pay their rent. The company has since grown into a global short-term rental platform, with millions of hosts earning income through their homes.But Airbnb now says many people in the same communities where its hosts live are struggling to find homes they can afford. That has prompted the company to take a new approach to the housing problem.Airbnb announced the Housing Accelerator on September 14, saying it is committing an initial $250 million in last-dollar financing. The company expects that money to help unlock more than $5 billion in capital over the next 10 years for housing projects. The programme will also support changes to zoning, permits and building rules that can make it easier to construct homes.Airbnb will invest $6.4 million in 201 affordable homesThe first investment will go to the St. John redevelopment project at 800 E. St. John Avenue in Austin. Airbnb said its $6.4 million investment will support 201 affordable housing units. The project is part of a larger development that will include a second building with 325 mixed-income homes. Together, the two projects are expected to provide more than 500 housing units, along with retail space, a park and public art.The affordable housing project is also important because of how long the site has remained unused. The City of Austin has owned the property since 2013, but the site had remained empty for nearly 20 years.Construction had already received community support and tax incentives through a Texas affordable housing programme. However, the project was held up for five years because it could not secure enough funding. Airbnb's investment is intended to fill that funding gap and allow construction to begin.Airbnb also wants Austin to change its housing rulesAirbnb said money alone will not solve the housing shortage. The company is also backing local housing policy changes through organisations such as AURA, an Austin-based pro-housing group.AURA has campaigned for rules that would allow up to three homes per lot and smaller minimum lot sizes. Such changes could make it easier to build smaller and more affordable starter homes. The group also wants Austin to allow more "missing middle" housing, a term generally used for homes such as duplexes, townhouses and other smaller multi-home developments that sit between single-family houses and large apartment buildings.Airbnb's funding will allow AURA to hire its first paid staff member after operating as an all-volunteer organisation for more than a decade.Kirk Watson, Mayor of Austin, said, "Austin leads the national conversation and the actual outcomes on housing because we're doing what it takes to build. I'm glad to see Airbnb investing in housing projects like St. John's. Expanding housing takes all of us. When a company like Airbnb steps up and works alongside local organizations, community leaders, and the city, you get real outcomes."José “Chito” Vela, Mayor Pro Tem and Councilmember for District 4, said, “Austin's housing shortage demands a collaborative approach. The St. John’s project shows what’s possible when the public sector, private sector, and community partners come together to build more housing and ensure affordability. I’m proud that Austin is the first city where Airbnb is making this kind of local investment.”AURA President Zach Faddis said, “AURA is grateful to Airbnb for their partnership and commitment to strengthening communities here in Austin. For more than a decade, we have advanced reforms to address the root cause of Austin’s housing crisis: the simple fact that we have made it too difficult to build enough homes for everyone. Airbnb has been a real partner in working with communities to address that issue head on, and we welcome their generous support for the work we do to advance pro-housing policies.”You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.