Global humanitarian organizations team up to provide safe spaces and services
MINNEAPOLIS, May 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Minneapolisglobal humanitarian organization based A light and Airbnb.org — an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis — have joined forces to help refugees fleeing Ukraine. Since March, Alight has had teams on the ground acting as accommodation guides to meet and assist new arrivals at the Ukraine-Poland border, and provide essential resources including safe shelter and refugee counseling during their travel.
“As we entered an ever-changing crisis situation, it was not enough to provide only the immediate essentials to people Ukraine needed during their flight, but receiving the initial grant from Airbnb.org has enabled our team members to guide these families and individuals to safe and comforting homes,” said Alight CEO and Board Member. administration of Airbnb.org. Jocelyn Wyatt. “Having partners intrinsically aligned with our own core values brings a human touch to the work that makes displaced populations feel whole and gives them hope for a better future.”
Airbnb.org enables hosts on Airbnb — as well as those who have never hosted before but want to step in during a crisis — to offer free and discounted stays to people affected by emergencies, such as alternative to other accommodation options. Airbnb.org is proud to work with governments and trusted partners, including Alight, to reach the communities that need help the most.
At the end of February, Airbnb.org announced that it would offer free short-term housing for up to 100,000 fleeing refugees Ukraine – and to date, more than 16,000 guests have benefited from this support. Through this vital partnership with Airbnb.org, Alight alone has booked hundreds of families directly into temporary accommodation – 3,825 safe and secure nights to date.
“Our commitment to empowering like-minded organizations with resources and tools that advance equity in communities has made Airbnb.org’s partnership with Alight a natural step to support those impacted by crisis in Ukraine“said the co-founder of Airbnb and president of Airbnb.org Joe Gebbia. “I have been fortunate to witness firsthand the work Alight does to thoughtfully connect refugees fleeing Ukraine to safe housing and community – with the infrastructure and support of Airbnb.org – and I am grateful for our partnership and their dedication to providing these services.”
In collaboration with Alight, Airbnb.org also works with partner Alight ORAM (Organization for Refugees, Asylum and Migration) to provide safe shelter for LGBTQ+ refugees fleeing persecution in Ukraine.
Please visit Alight’s Ukrainian response page to learn more about this vital work.
About ALUM Founded in 1978 by the founder Neal Ball, A light, formerly known as the American Refugee Committee, provides health care, clean water, shelter, protection and economic opportunity to more than 3.5 million people in more than 20 countries each year. Alight believes in the incredible creativity, potential and ingenuity of displaced people and strives to shine a light on their humanity, the enormous amount of good that is already happening and the possibilities to do more. In 2021, Alight received the prestigious 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for the eleventh consecutive year, celebrating more than a decade of hard-hitting work.
About AIRBNB.ORG Airbnb.org is a non-profit organization dedicated to facilitating temporary stays for people in times of crisis around the world. Airbnb.org operates independently and leverages Airbnb, Inc.’s technology, services, and other resources free of charge to further Airbnb.org’s charitable purpose. The inspiration for Airbnb.org began in 2012 with a single host named Shell who opened her home to people affected by Hurricane Sandy. It sparked a movement and marked the start of a program that allows hosts on Airbnb to offer stays to people in need. Since then, the program has evolved to focus on emergency response and to help provide stays for evacuees, aid workers, refugees, asylum seekers and frontline workers fighting the spread of the virus. COVID-19. The hosts offered to open their homes and helped provide housing for 100,000 people in times of need. Airbnb.org is a separate and independent entity from Airbnb, Inc. Airbnb, Inc. does not charge service fees for stays supported by Airbnb.org on its platform.
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