Airbnb has three million registered hosts around the world, 6,000 of whom have already offered their rooms for Open Homes. Rooms are offered free of charge to refugees, and Airbnb will not collect any fees on the bookings. Initially Airbnb has partnered with organisations in France, Canada, Greece, Germany, Italy, the USA and Spain, but it hopes to expand into more countries in the future. It says that 6,000 hosts have already signed up to the platform.”By connecting hosts willing to open their homes with families in need, Airbnb will help us cut the time and expense of moving refugees from harm to home,” said said David Miliband, president and CEO of International Rescue Committee, one of the organisations with access to the service.
“Perhaps just as important, this sort of home sharing allows people to make real connections and to build lasting relationships.”