WAR AND KINDNESS
Sending Money to Ukraine via Airbnb
A guide for goodness
It was on TikTok I first heard of sending money to Ukrainian citizens by renting an Airbnb without showing up and I thought it was quite clever. I had already donated to a non-profit group to support humanitarian efforts but it seemed so tangible to be able to reach out and hand someone money. After all, I donate to Covenant House but will also give a few bucks to an outstretched hand on the street. It seems there are many vectors within our sphere of influence.
I offered to channel funds for friends and family and three took me up on the offer. All told we booked two places in Kyiv, one in Lviv, and one in Odesa. Coincidentally I also booked a place in San Diego in between two of these cities and the two in Kyiv were for the same period. I kept waiting for a fraud alert telling me I did not fit the algorithm but it all went through quite easily.
Shopping for a place not to stay but use as a financial conduit is a bit different than normal, the filtering tools were not useful. My first booking was in Lviv thinking that since it is en route to Poland there might be refugees needing a place to stay. There is no guarantee the hot will open the door to someone other than the person booking but if it does I thought near the train station would be a good place. The place had toys and games for children which was also a plus. I was also able to confirm AirBnB is not charging any service fees (normally around 12%) for Ukraine right now.
When it came time to purchase a second round, using other people’s money, I came up with some criteria to help select the host.
- SeleSelect a place in a populated area that is in danger or will be flooded with refugees. Kyiv and Odesa are good bets.
- Look for an interior space that is not luxurious or finicky. Not having white upholstery increases the likelihood of the place being e.g. kid or pet friendly.
- Check if the host speaks Ukrainian (український). If they speak Russian as well do not hold that against them.
- Chose dates as near as possible so the money will transfer quickly.
- Sometimes a small detail will tip the scales. A description of the host including details about the family, a Ukrainian flag on the profile picture, or a #nowar tag in the title.
- Collect a few potential hosts in a wishlist and then select based on instinct.
The one rental that caught my eye was titled “Free for refugees. City center, 2 bedroom”. The description continued with pets allowed and “Free for refugees during war! Just pm me!”, perfect.
https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/46863299?source_impression_id=p3_1646727424_zLQSmZnDUq8YSXtL
The purchase, on behalf of my friend Amy who had sent me funds via Venmo, went through immediately. The message in return made my week.
…its absolutely unexpected. I even don’t know what to say. Really appreciate it. Cant imagine about such type of help till this days. But i want you to know if you once decided to visit Kyiv, ( its quite beautiful place) […] I personally will make an excursion for you. And be sure, that Ukraine will never be in Soviet Union again, as Putin want 🇺🇦
I liked the personal touch and the feeling of direct action but I would encourage anyone doing this to make it a secondary form of support. Money is always more powerful when pooled and many organizations are working to bring humanitarian relief that a one on one transaction cannot deliver. HIAS, Doctors without Borders, and World Central Kitchen are just a few.
AirBnB has also organized a relief organization to assist crisis areas with housing by coordinating donations, willing hosts, and those in need of lodging including relief workers.
There are many creative ways to get involved. Even seeking and spreading truth helps greatly.
