Hamilton residents book stays in Ukraine to support host families

Hamiltonians are among Canadians booking stays at Ukrainian houses to support owners of the rental units, even though they have no plans to visit the country.

People around the world have been booking Ukrainian rental units via Airbnb after a post was shared on Instagram by an account named @quentin.quarantino. The premise is by booking the properties, people will be directly donating to Ukrainians as Russian military forces continue to invade the country.

Hamilton's Tara Smith booked four nights in Odesa, Ukraine.

"I think it was one or two days after the day, and that way the host would receive the money almost immediately," she said.

Smith messaged her host explaining how she wouldn't be coming, but people around the world are thinking about the people of Ukraine.

She transferred $114.23 for her booking. "I kind of just decided to book like a week's worth of groceries for me," she said.

After watching 10 to 12 stories about how potential guests heard back from their hosts on @quentin.quarantino's Instagram account, Smith said "it was very heartwarming." 

"I was anxiously awaiting a response, I think because I had read all these other responses that people had gotten."

Little did she know that she was about to have a back-and-forth conversation with Julia, her host.

Julia wrote back at 4 a.m. Ukraine time. "[Thank] you," she said. "We are sitting with our daughter in a bomb shelter now.

"Our country has taken a hit and is defending the whole world of democracy and its territory. Thanks."

Smith said she had been watching the grief so much in the news, but having this personal conversation with someone on the ground just humanized it. Her husband was also happy to know the family was alive and safe in a shelter.

"It's not just something that you can look away from or turn away from," Smith told CBC News. 

She said she feels sadness, empathy and fear for the family after reading the messages.

"When I read that she was in a bomb shelter with her daughter, I just felt like I wanted to vomit. It was like, as a parent, you picture and you put yourself in that situation," she said.

"It just makes you hold on to every small moment you have with your family, your loved ones."

Smith wasn't sure what to write back and discussed it with her boss, Andrew Kinsella. "It's not just about money," he said, "but it's about the people of Ukraine knowing that they are not alone."

Smith said she understood that human connection after talking to her boss and reading comments on the original Instagram post.

"We all as humans need validation and we want to be heard, and just that connection is what's so important." 

She was happy she could help when Julia replied again after two days, saying, "Dear Tara! I want to thank you for your help. We bought groceries and medicines.

"Gotta hold on, thanks again."

Kinsella, who owns a set designing company called On Set Design, also booked a place in Odesa and heard back from his host.

Kinsella booked three nights, contributing $150.

"It was really good to just make a connection and let someone know that in a small way, you know, that we are thinking about them and wanna help."

Airbnb's senior communications officer, Matt McNama, confirmed that the dynamic exists.

"Airbnb has waived all service fees for any bookings in Ukraine so that any money donated to Ukraine via that community-driven platform goes directly to Ukrainians," he said.

Airbnb chief executive officer Brian Chesky said in a tweet that 434,000 nights were booked in Ukraine, accounting for almost $19.1 million Cdn going to the hosts in need, within one week after this initiative began.

He also shared several touching responses from Ukrainian hosts on his Twitter account.

McNama tweeted that nearly 3,000 of these bookings made during the first 48 hours were from Canada.

"It's wonderful to see Canadians step up," said McNama, who lives in Toronto.

Airbnb has suspended all operations in Russia and Belarus.

The company also announced an initiative to house 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, and more than 31,000 hosts from around the world have signed up, including 1,000 Canadians, McNama said.