MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Airbnb provides housing to nearly 1,500 Afghan refugees in Washington

Feb 25, 2022, 12:50 PM

Airbnb, Afghan refugees...

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee speaks during a news conference at the Afghan Welcome Center at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle, in this Friday, Oct. 22, 2021, file photo. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

Airbnb made a commitment to offer free, temporary housing to 20,000 Afghan refugees, and has reportedly met that goal, as CEO and co-found Brian Chesky shared on Twitter this week.

In Washington state, Airbnb has provided housing to nearly 1,500 Afghan refugees, and Seattle has been one of the top destinations.

Gov. Inslee encourages continued evacuation efforts of Afghan refugees

The goal of 20,000 refugees housed by Airbnb was reached in six months, in partnership with resettlement agencies and nonprofit organizations. In the future, a release from the company says that “the Airbnb community will continue to be a crucial resource for newly arriving Afghans as well as other newcomers, with the goal of providing housing to another 20,000 refugees.”

“We welcome our new Afghan neighbors with open arms into the diverse and vibrant fabric of our state,” Gov. Jay Inslee said in a written statement. “We look out for each other here in Washington, and right now these families need our support, kindness, and generosity. It’s uplifting to see the work Airbnb.org is doing here, and we call on the entire global business sector to help meet the continuing needs of newly arriving Afghans.”

Seattle area groups ask for volunteers to help arriving Afghan refugees

The effort has been funded through contributions to Airbnb.org from Chesky, Co-founder and Chairman of Airbnb Joe Gebbia, as well as donors to the Airbnb.org Refugee Fund.

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Airbnb provides housing to nearly 1,500 Afghan refugees in Washington