Bryanna Sutton

Creative Director

bns5387@psu.edu

Since 2012, Airbnb has helped 75,000 people find a place to stay in time of a crisis. Today, the company still holds onto this mission. On Tuesday, August 24, Airbnb stated that they would globally be giving free temporary housing to the 20,000 Afghan refugees who have fled the Taliban’s takeover.

Housing costs will be covered by Airbnb chief executive Brian Chesky and contributions that were received to the Airbnb Refugee Fund that was started back in June. “The displacement and resettlement of Afghan refugees in the U.S. and elsewhere are one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time. We feel a responsibility to step up,” Mr. Chesky states. “I hope this inspires other business leaders to do the same. There’s no time to waste.”

Texas Medical Technology, a supplier for medical equipment, mentioned that they plan to hire 100 Afghan refugees within a year at their manufacturing facility in Houston.

The U.S. said Monday, August 23 that 48,000 people were evacuated from Afghanistan while thousands are still trying to escape from Taliban militants who have set an airlift deadline of August 31, being Kabul airport the only exit point. Many people who are still trying to leave are concerned that they might not be able to leave the country.

Chesky urges Airbnb hosts to reach out to him if they are willing to host a refugee family. There have been no specifications on how long the refugees could stay in the rental units, but the company mentioned that hosts are offering short and long-term stays.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/24/business/airbnb-afghanistan-refugees.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/24/airbnb-plans-to-temporarily-house-20000-afghan-refugees.html