Online accommodation platform Airbnb says it will offer housing to 20,000 refugees from Afghanistan free of charge. The company aims to help them resettle across the world.
The boss of Airbnb says the move is in response to “one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time”. He feels the business has a social responsibility to step up and do something. Chief executive Brian Chesky hopes that it inspires other businesses to do the same. They need to act quickly as “there’s no time to waste”.
Mr Chesky says that where the refugees stay is a “first chapter in their new lives”, as tens of thousands of Afghans resettle around the world. He hopes the Airbnb community will provide these 20,000 refugees with “a safe place to rest and start over” and “a warm welcome home”.
The company is working together with non-governmental organisations “on the ground”. They are attempting to help with the most urgent needs and offer immediate accommodation. The firm aim to collaborate with resettlement agencies and partners to provide aid where it is needed. They will develop the initiative and support as necessary.
Mr Chesky announced on Tuesday that “starting today, Airbnb will begin housing 20,000 Afghan refugees globally for free”. Funding for the stays will come via contributions from Airbnb, Mr Chesky, and donors to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund.
Helping those in crisis
He also acknowledged how it would not be possible “without the generosity of [their] hosts”, and asked volunteers to get in contact. Airbnb encourage property owners hosting locations on their site to donate stays at their homes to “people in crisis”. This scheme started in 2012 in response to Hurricane Sandy. After the storm hit New York city over 1,000 people were in need of emergency accommodation. It has reportedly helped over 75,000 people since then.
In 2017, Airbnb launched its Open Homes initiative. It allows its community of hosts to offer their accommodation to people hit by disaster or fleeing conflict for free. The initiative has already helped by housing people affected by a number of disasters. This includes the Mexico City earthquake and wildfires in California and Australia.
The company has also set up its own independent non-profit, Airbnb.org. This focuses on giving help to people in sharing housing and resources with each other in times of crisis.
Meanwhile, president of the International Rescue Committee, David Miliband, says “accessible housing is urgently needed and essential”. Last week, Airbnb gave emergency funding and support to them, HIAS and Church World Service to provide temporary stays for up to 1,000 refugees arriving from Afghanistan. At the weekend, it also placed 165 refugees in safe housing after they landed in the US.
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