Airbnb and local Hosts support a community in Paris

Making time to connect with people is meaningful to Emmanuel, a Host in Paris for more than 10 years. “I like to have interactions with people, especially those who are in distress or alone,” he says. “We need to make time to make people feel happy. It’s the same as hosting on Airbnb when you welcome someone into your house.”

That’s one of the many reasons why Emmanuel volunteers with the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, a 190-year-old organization founded in Paris that serves people in need, including individuals without housing. It organizes weekly gatherings to provide companionship, like sewing workshops and outdoor breakfasts.

As a member of the Paris Host Club, Emmanuel nominated the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul for an Airbnb Community Fund donation. Host Club members have an opportunity each year to support their local community through the Community Fund. He believed the nonprofit was the perfect candidate because it shared the same values as Airbnb. “Airbnb is a special community because it values fraternity between people,” he says.

Because of the Paris Host Club’s nomination, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul received a $50,000 USD donation from the Airbnb Community Fund. This donation will fund the development of more women-only shelters in the city and additional community gatherings, such as the outdoor breakfasts.

More than 50 Host Clubs nominated nonprofits around the world to receive Airbnb Community Fund donations in 2023. Nominations for the 2024 Community Fund donations are now open. Connect with your local Host Club to learn more.

Information contained in this article may have changed since publication.