On Monday, Airbnb announced that it would be offering free short-term housing for as many as 100,000 Ukrainians who have been displaced due to the Russian invasion. The company will fund these stays with the help of Airbnb hosts and donations to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund.
“We need help to meet this goal,” Airbnb co-founder and CEO Brian Chesky said in a tweet. “The greatest need we have is for more people who can offer their homes in nearby countries, including Poland, Germany, Hungary, and Romania.”
Chesky and two other Airbnb officials sent letters to leaders of European nations bordering Ukraine to offer housing support for refugees.
Even though some Ukrainians may not currently have access to devices or the internet, Airbnb has said that it will work with “nonprofits on the ground who are responsible for booking and coordinating stays for refugee guests, regardless of nationality, race, ethnicity, or how they identify.”
According to The Associated Press, over 500,000 Ukrainians have fled since Russia declared war on the country. Airbnb has stated that it will continue to work closely with governments in each country to best support their specific needs, including longer-term stays.
The company has not specified how much it intends to spend on the commitment or how long refugees will continue to be housed, but is expected to reveal more information in the coming days.
This is not the first time Airbnb has offered housing to people seeking refuge or asylum. In August 2021, Airbnb provided short-term housing for 20,000 Afghan refugees. The number of Afghan refugees using Airbnb was 21,300 as of last week.
“Over the past five years, Airbnb and Airbnb.org have connected more than 54,000 refugees and asylees – including from Syria, Venezuela, and Afghanistan – to temporary housing through Airbnb.org partners,” the company said in a statement. “Last year, Airbnb.org announced the creation of its Refugee Fund and has galvanized more than 4,000 donors to further support its work with refugees and asylum seekers worldwide.”