Airbnb Offers Free Housing To Immigrants And Refugees Affected By Trump's Ban

The house-sharing site joined companies like Google, Facebook and Lyft in condemning the president's actions.
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Immigrants and refugees affected by President Donald Trump’s executive order have a place to stay with Airbnb.

The home-sharing site announced Saturday that it will provide free housing to those impacted by the new measures, which temporarily bar people from seven Muslim-majority nations from entering the United States. Syrian refugees have been barred indefinitely.

Airbnb Co-Founder Brian Chesky shared news of the invitation on Twitter, after criticizing Trump’s order and rallying the public to “stand with those who are affected.”

The company later offered its hosts the opportunity to provide free housing to refugees in need.

An Airbnb spokesman, reached by The Huffington Post Monday, said that if they are unable to find enough volunteers they will step in and “subsidize the cost of necessary listings and ensure that those in need have a free place to stay.”

“Our goal is to provide short-term housing assistance to these impacted individuals,” the company said in a statement.

Airbnb is one of the latest companies to take a stance on Trump’s anti-Muslim efforts.

Executives of tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Twitter, Apple, and Facebook have expressed similar criticisms of the ban. On Sunday, ride-share app Lyft announced it would donate $1 million to the American Civil Liberties Union over the next four years.

“Banning people of a particular faith or creed, race or identity, sexuality or ethnicity, from entering the U.S. is antithetical to both Lyft’s and our nation’s core values,” the company said in a blog post on its website. “We stand firmly against these actions, and will not be silent on issues that threaten the values of our community.”

Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz also added his voice Sunday to the growing condemnation of Trump, while stating that the company is “doing everything possible to support and help” employees affected by the ban.

“We are living in an unprecedented time, one in which we are witness to the conscience of our country, and the promise of the American Dream, being called into question,” he said.

This story has been updated to include additional information on Airbnb’s housing offer.

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