Airbnb Will Offer Free Housing to Ukrainian Refugees

In light of the crisis happening in Ukraine, Airbnb has announced that it will be offering free housing to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees.

The company said on Monday that Airbnb hosts and donations to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund will help in the funding of the service.

In September, the company had also said it planned to provide free, short-term housing to 40,000 Afghan refugees. As of last week, Airbnb said it has provided housing to 21,300 Afghan refugees.

Over 500,000 Ukrainians have fled since the war began, according to The Associated Press.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Nations said that Kyiv still hopes for a diplomatic resolution with Russia even as Moscow sends more troops and weapons to its border.

“We need help to meet this goal,” Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky tweeted. “The greatest need we have is for more people who can offer their homes in nearby countries, including Poland, Germany, Hungary and Romania.”

The initiative is part of Airbnb’s efforts to support refugees through the company’s nonprofit, Airbnb.org.

Airbnb and Airbnb.org have provided 54,000 refugees and those who have been granted asylum from many countries — including Syria, Venezuela and Afghanistan — with temporary housing over the last five years, the company said. Its refugee fund started last year.

The company did not specify how much the company plans to spend on the latest commitment or how long refugees will be housed. More information about how hosts can support this initiative, such as by offering free or discounted stays, will be provided in the coming days, the company said.

Disclaimer: We have no position in any of the companies mentioned and have not been compensated for this article.