Airbnb Has Lodged Over 20,000 Refugees For Free, Will Now Double That

Photo 117408349 © Kaspars Grinvalds | Dreamstime.com

Six months ago, as the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, Airbnb quickly tapped into its what it knew best and offered up free temporary housing for Afghan refugees around the world. In hopes to give 20,000 displaced individuals a roof over their heads while they adjusted to new foreign places, the homestay platform made a plea to hosts to open up their homes at no charge or at discounted prices.

On Tuesday, Airbnb announced that it has met that goal. The initiative, under its nonprofit Airbnb.org, was funded by CEO and co-founder Brian Chesky, Airbnb.org co-founder and chairman Joe Gebbia, and contributors to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund, with support from the US government and all nine US resettlement agencies.

What surprised the company was the outpour of support from hosts who quickly extended their homes to put up refugees in short-term or longer-term stays. Airbnb says that thanks to them, it was able to house nearly 1,300 more Afghan newcomers on top of its aim for 20,000.

“When we began efforts to provide housing to Afghan refugees, we asked our community to open up their homes or donate to meet this critical need. Due to the generosity of our Hosts and donors to Airbnb.org, and the dedication of our nonprofit partners helping to drive this important work, we’ve been able to surpass our original goal,” Chesky expressed in a news release.

When it launched the program then, Airbnb promised to adapt to the “fast-evolving” situation and provide support “as necessary.” Now that it has achieved what it had intended to, its next step is to double free temporary housing and provide lodging for 20,000 more refugees.

“As Airbnb.org marks this important milestone, its work to support refugees and other displaced people around the world will continue. Through Airbnb.org, the Airbnb community will continue to be a crucial resource for newly arriving Afghans as well as other newcomers with the goal of providing free, temporary housing to another 20,000 refugees," an Airbnb spokesperson told DesignTAXI.

[via Airbnb, cover photo 117408349 © Kaspars Grinvalds | Dreamstime.com]