RVshare and RVs 4 MDs Partner to Provide Temporary Housing for COVID-19 First Responders

Both organizations are combining resources to scale initiative to help thousands in need

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Apr 09, 2020, 08:00 ET

AUSTIN, Texas and DALLAS, April 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- RVshare, the world's first and largest peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace, is partnering with RVs 4 MDs, a volunteer group that connects first responders to RV owners during a crisis, to provide temporary housing to healthcare workers on the frontlines. In partnership, RVshare and RVs 4 MDs will work to quickly scale efforts by combining resources and streamlining the process to meet the demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

RVs 4 MDs currently connects healthcare workers with RV owners near them through a Facebook page with more than 20,000 members that continues to grow daily. The demand for temporary housing to self-isolate is skyrocketing as healthcare workers are fighting on the frontlines across the country.

RVshare, founded in 2013, has a community of more than 60,000 RV owners and a platform to safely and securely book RV rentals. RVshare will leverage its existing infrastructure and expertise to help RVs 4 MDs meet their demand. The company has a Disaster Response Solution program that launched a COVID-19 response effort in March with more than 500 owners who are willing to donate their RVs for free or at a very reduced rate. RVshare will waive all fees for donated rentals booked through their platform.

"Since the Facebook page launched on March 24, RVs 4 MDs has matched hundreds of first responders with an RV," said RVs 4 MDs co-founder Emily Phillips. "We are overwhelmed by the generosity we have seen. There are hundreds of medical workers requesting temporary housing a day. When RVshare reached out to us about their supply of RVs, we knew this would be the right partnership to scale the effort quickly."

Through RVshare's platform, RV owners and frontline workers will have access to RVshare's terms of service and a customized rental agreement to give both parties contractual and legal protection. Bookings made through the platform can also add comprehensive insurance policies.

"RVs 4 MDs has started a strong movement across the country, and peer-to-peer RV rentals is our expertise. We want to support the cause in any way we can," said RVshare's CEO Jon Gray.

The movement took off after Phillips was searching for a self-isolation solution for her husband who is a frontline doctor in Dallas, Texas. Her friend Holly Haggard lent them her RV that was otherwise sitting unused. Realizing the problem stretched far beyond the Phillips family, the friends created a Facebook group for COVID-19 hoping to connect more people in need.

Interested in helping? Please visit RVshare's Disaster Response Solutions page or the RVs 4 MDs Facebook group for more information.

About RVshare

RVshare is the first and largest peer-to-peer RV rental marketplace. With more than 100,000 vehicles available, RVshare's diverse inventory ranges from affordable travel trailers to luxury motorhomes and can accommodate any outdoor adventure, whether it's a weekend of camping or a cross-country tour of national parks. Through RVshare, families and groups can experience a one-of-a-kind trip and create memories that will last a lifetime. In addition to offering a unique travel experience, RVshare provides RV owners in North America the opportunity to turn their RV into a second income. For more information, visit rvshare.com, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @rvshare.

About RVs 4 MDs

RVs 4 MDs started as a grass roots organization through a Facebook group to aid healthcare workers and first responders who have been exposed to COVID-19 by connecting them to RV owners who can provide temporary housing. With more than 2,000 volunteers' nationwide, RVs 4 MDs maintains focused on serving individuals during this challenging time. For more information, visit @RVs4Mds on Facebook.

SOURCE RVshare