The United States military withdrawal from Afghanistan has created an acceleration of Afghan refugees. In the final stages of the withdrawal, a lot of attention was trained on the desperate plight of Afghans who wanted to flee their country but couldn’t. Just as desperate, however, are the Afghans who made it out but are struggling to find places to live.

Airbnb specializes in matching up homeowners willing to share space with travelers needing temporary accommodations. During this time of need it is attempting to help fill the gap. CEO Brian Chesky tweeted a statement of support, promising that the firm would arrange free housing for up to 20,000 refugees fleeing Afghanistan.

The displacement and resettlement of Afghan refugees in the US and elsewhere is one of the biggest humanitarian crises of our time. We feel a responsibility to step up. While we will be paying for these stays, we could not do this without the generosity of our Hosts. To make this happen, we are working closely with Airbnb.org, NGOs, and partner orgs on the ground to support the most pressing needs.

Airbnb has not indicated how long this housing would be made available or to what extent if any it will assist in long-term placement for these refugees. But this isn’t the first time Airbnb has pledged its support during a public crisis. In March 2020, it offered up 100,000 accommodation sites to first responders and relief workers trying to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Possible Preaching Angle:

Not everyone has the power and influence of the CEO of a successful internet startup, but everyone has something they can share with another person in need. When we follow the Spirit's prompting to act hospitably toward those who so desperately need it, we demonstrate the love of Jesus.