3 min readDecember 2023

How Short-Term Rentals Can Make Florida More Resilient against Extreme Weather

Floridians increasingly face damages from extreme weather. STR operators can now help their communities by hosting displaced policyholders.
NG
Nathan Guss

As the climate changes, Florida residents are facing a new reality: more extreme weather that threatens their homes and communities. While known for its warm climate and scenic beaches, the state is grappling more frequently with severe weather, including intense hurricanes, heavy rainfall, and widespread flooding. These challenges require innovative, effective responses from federal, state and municipal governments, as well as the community and individuals. SiniSTAR’s home-sharing platform is among the resilience-building solutions. The company’s platform allows private citizens with rental units to give a helping hand to those in need of temporary housing.

Increasing Extreme Weather

With its long coastline and low elevations, the Sunshine State has always had more than its share of natural disasters. But climate change is causing more frequent, more intense extreme weather. The rise in global temperatures due to greenhouse gas emissions is altering atmospheric and ocean dynamics, leading to more intense hurricanes as warmer ocean waters provide additional energy to these storms. Moreover, the state is experiencing heavier rainfalls and more floods due to the higher evaporation rates linked to warmer air temperatures. Rising sea levels and higher tides also contribute to water damages after “sunny day flooding.” This phenomenon, where high tides cause flooding in coastal areas even on clear days, is becoming more common. These changes pose significant challenges to both the natural and built environments across the state.

More Damages to Homes

Vulnerable areas along the coast have seen a population and construction boom over the past few decades, which along with more extreme weather, sets the stage for more damages to housing. This means after a disaster, many more Floridians will need to be relocated to temporary accommodations while their homes are being rebuilt or repaired.

Hosting Displaced Families with SiniSTAR

Previously, a handful of large companies provided housing for displaced policyholders. This often meant that families ended up in hotels or large apartment buildings outside their communities. Such accommodations often lacked key amenities, such as a kitchen or washer and dryer.

But SiniSTAR’s home-sharing platform has recently opened the market to Florida’s small-scale short-term rental (STR) operators. The company connects people running STR businesses with insurers seeking temporary accommodations for their displaced policyholders. As a result, anyone with a rental unit meeting SiniSTAR’s standards can become part of a growing network of hosts.

Becoming a host on SiniSTAR’s home-sharing platform makes your community more resilient against natural disasters. Doing so provides displaced families with furnished, fully equipped accommodations in their communities while they bounce back from adversity. You give them a convenient place to live that feels like home.

At the same time, hosting with SiniSTAR is a win-win situation. Relocated families find comfortable accommodations, and STR operators tap into an additional revenue stream. The insurance housing market offers a stable, usually medium-term occupancy with less turnover compared to traditional tourist-oriented rentals. This reduces the administrative and maintenance burden while ensuring a steady income from insurance companies. Plus, issues such as noise and parties rarely come up with guests who just want to return to their normal lives.

How to Become a SiniSTAR Host?

Becoming a SiniSTAR host is a straightforward process. Interested property owners can start by visiting Sinistar.com and creating an account. Next, enter details about the home and submit it for approval. Once approved, you will be able to begin bidding on relocation contracts with insurance companies.

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