Airbnb Lets Anyone Host Afghan Refugees After Mass Interest, Will Waive All Fees
Image via Airbnb
Humankind’s hospitality shone through this week, in the midst of an upheaval, when Airbnb announced that it was finding free, temporary housing for 20,000 Afghan refugees worldwide and paying for the lodging in conjunction with its nonprofit Airbnb.org, CEO Brian Chesky, and donors of its Refugee Fund.
For the people of Afghanistan, leaving their entire lives behind them and moving into a new country that doesn’t speak their language is only the first step. The next difficult thing is finding a place to stay, where they can reorganize their thoughts.
Across the world, hosts stepped up and asked if they could help out in any way. “Since the announcement, we have received enormous interest from people within the Airbnb community and beyond looking for ways to support Airbnb and Airbnb.org’s work with partner organizations to house Afghan refugees,” Airbnb told DesignTAXI in an email. “In many cases, we have heard from people who want to offer their space free of charge. The response has been overwhelming.”
Previously promising that it would update the initiative as the situation evolves, the homestay rental platform is now extending the program so it can go beyond its initial vision of temporary housing for 20,000 refugees arriving from Afghanistan.
Now, “existing Airbnb Hosts and anyone with available space to offer can sign up to provide free or discounted stays to Afghan refugees,” the company explains. It will also cover all fees for all refugee stays.
Acknowledging volunteers who wish to provide support but cannot offer up their homes, Airbnb is also welcoming donations to help pay for the stays and widen its reach to other Afghans who need a place to stay.
Airbnb and its nonprofit are additionally broadening support to governments that have expressed their interest in finding emergency stays for refugees.
The platform detailed that the worldwide plan would not have been possible “without the help of the Airbnb Host community and Airbnb.org partners—including International Rescue Committee, HIAS and Church World Service, among others.”
“With your help, we can do even more,” said Airbnb. We are deeply appreciative of Hosts who have stepped up to open their homes for free or at a discount and those who have offered to donate to the Refugee Fund. This support—as well as any additional generosity—will be used to build upon Airbnb.org’s initial commitment to help meet the emergency housing needs of 20,000 refugees.”
Details on how to join as a host for Afghan refugees or to make a donation can be found at Airbnb.org/refugees.
[via Airbnb]
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