Airbnb and Airbnb.org are announcing that Airbnb.org will offer free, short-term housing to up to 100,000 refugees fleeing Ukraine. These stays will be funded by Airbnb, Inc., donors to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund, and the generosity of Hosts through Airbnb.org.
Airbnb is continuing to build upon its 2021 pledge to provide temporary housing to refugees around the world—this time with an emphasis on the crisis in Ukraine.
Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky, Airbnb co-founder and Airbnb.org Chairman Joe Gebbia, and Airbnb Chief Strategy Officer and co-founder Nathan Blecharczyk sent letters to leaders across Europe, including the leaders of Poland, Germany, Hungary and Romania, offering support in welcoming Ukrainian refugees within their borders. The company has pledged to provide free, short-term housing for up to 100,000 people.
According to the United Nations, more than 800,000 civilians have already fled Ukraine.
Will the initially commitment is for short-term stays, Airbnb reps say the company will work closely with European governments to best support the specific needs in each country, including providing longer-term stays if and as needed. Additionally, Airbnb will work with local nonprofits on the ground to coordinate booking for refugees, regardless of nationality, race, ethnicity or how they identify.
Anyone who is interested in supporting this initiative, including by offering free or discounted stays can go to airbnb.org/help-ukraine to get involved.
Last year, Airbnb announced a worldwide commitment to provide temporary housing to 20,000 Afghan refugees in light of the ongoing crisis in Afghanistan. Over the past five years, Airbnb and Airbnb.org have connected more than 54,000 refugees and asylees to temporary housing through Airbnb.org partners.