How to Volunteer to Host Afghan Refugees on Airbnb, Even If You’re Not the Host
In the two weeks since the Taliban took over Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, about 105,000 people have been evacuated using one of the largest airlifts in US history. While about 5,100 evacuees are American citizens, the rest are Afghans and families, many of whom now face insecurity.
If you are looking for ways to help – and you have a place in your home – you might want to consider temporary housing for Afghan refugees. One way to do this is through Airbnb. But you don’t have to be a regular site owner to volunteer. Here’s what you need to know about the process.
How to host Afghan refugees on Airbnb
Airbnb announced last week that it will offer free temporary housing to 20,000 Afghan refugees around the world . The company has since said it has received inquiries from landlords, as well as people who have never used a vacation rental site before, asking how they can offer space in their homes to people displaced by the humanitarian crisis. If you are among them, there are now several answers .
For starters, if you are not already an Airbnb host , you will need to create an account and listing that will be used solely to provide free disaster relief accommodation. Existing owners can list their properties for free or at a discount. As usual, hosts have the option to decide whether to accept someone’s request to stay.
Once the reservation has been made, the host must provide their guests with the essentials, including:
- Toilet paper
- Soap
- Bed linen / sheets
- At least 1 towel per guest.
- At least 1 pillow for each guest.
Finally, Airbnb said the company will provide hosts with community support and non-profit resources to navigate the experience, as well as up to $ 1,000,000 in property protection should it happen. You can find out more about the program on the company’s website .