Many of you have been following world events and wondering what you can do to help.
We want to let you know that has committed to funding and facilitating free, short-term housing for up to 100,000 refugees fleeing Ukraine. will partner with nonprofit organizations on the ground who will directly coordinate these short-term stays.
Images: Apartment in Kyiv, Ukraine by
In the coming days, we’ll have details about ways our Host community can get involved. In the meantime, you can to provide emergency housing in your area or .
The commitment to house refugees fleeing Ukraine builds on the year-round work of . Recently, the nonprofit announced that it provided housing to more than . It also set a new goal of providing free, temporary housing to another 20,000 refugees from Afghanistan, Africa, the Middle East, Central and South America, and other regions.
This new effort to offer short-term housing for up to 100,000 refugees fleeing Ukraine is in addition to work over the past few years to support refugees and provide emergency accommodations to those in need.
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Inspired by a fellow Host
In 2012, a Host named Shell opened her home to people impacted by Hurricane Sandy. That kind gesture sparked a movement that led to Hosts on Airbnb providing free stays for people in times of need, and eventually evolved into , an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
Over the last decade, and our Host community have helped and housed tens of thousands of people, including refugees, those seeking shelter following natural disasters, and frontline workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, announced the creation of a and galvanized more than 4,000 donors and Hosts offering free and discounted stays—further supporting its work with refugees and asylum seekers worldwide.
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Hosting with Airbnb.org
works with nonprofit partners, including the International Rescue Committee, HIAS, and Care International.
Caseworkers from these types of organizations make bookings with Hosts on behalf of refugees, and help these guests take care of other critical needs like finding healthcare, employment, and long-term accommodations.
helps fund the cost of short-term stays, and all service fees are waived, so Airbnb doesn’t make any money on these stays. As a Host, you can help these funds stretch even further by offering free or discounted stays.
Answers to your frequently asked questions
How does the refugee housing program work, and who can participate?
Anyone with space available, from a private room to an entire home, can offer to temporarily house refugees through . If you’re already a Host, you can opt into the program and make your listing available for free or at a discounted rate. If you’re new to Airbnb and want to host only for this cause, you can create a listing on that will be free and available only to refugee guests.
How does define “short-term housing” for refugees of the Ukraine crisis?
is starting by funding and facilitating free stays of up to 14 days for refugee guests. As the situation in Ukraine evolves, will continue to stay in contact with NGOs, resettlement agencies, and government leaders to understand and help support the specific housing needs of those affected by this crisis.
What happens after refugees’ short-term housing ends?
works directly with nonprofits on the ground which are responsible for booking and coordinating stays for refugee guests. These nonprofits assign a caseworker to each refugee, who supports them in settling into their new community, finding permanent housing, pursuing work or educational opportunities, and more.
Does Airbnb profit from stays?
No. Airbnb waives all of its fees for stays and never makes money from these emergency housing efforts.
Is support only available for refugees who are Ukrainian?
is committed to helping people from around the world with emergency housing needs. For the specific response to the crisis in Ukraine, is working with NGO partners to provide assistance to refugees and asylum seekers fleeing Ukraine, regardless of nationality, race, or ethnicity.
Can people who have never hosted before sign up to provide housing?
Yes. Hosts can share information about with anyone who has space to share and an interest in helping to host refugees. Anyone who is interested in supporting this initiative, including by offering free or discounted stays, can .
How can I connect people I know who are affected by this crisis with emergency housing support?
’s nonprofit partners coordinate assistance for our refugee guests. Refugees and asylum seekers fleeing Ukraine who are in need of immediate support can get connected to available resources from the .
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