What began with a quick action at Berlin’s main train station, #UnterkunftUkraine is developing into a decentralized movement of civil and lived solidarity. Our goal is to build a sustainable network of hosts, which provides shelter to people in need.
The war in Ukraine shocked us all. We are unable to stop the violence over there. Hence, we thought: At least we could share our homes with refugees and set up a platform for it. We want to oppose violence and separation by establishing direct connections between people and by promoting solidarity among all people in our region.
#UnterkunftUkraine is an alliance of mission-driven organisations supporting solidarity in civil society.
#UnterkunftUkraine has shown how this willingness to help can be activated and has set itself the task of making it accessible where it is needed. For the first time, free, private shelters can play an important role in managing a large-scale refugee movement. Cooperation with aid organizations and coordination with public agencies is essential.
Our vision: #UnterkunftUkraine should become a sustainable organization with an lasting infrastructure to connect refugees and private hosts in Germany.
© Maryna Karpinska
One of the two initiators of #Unterkunft Ukraine, Lukas, has been running the solidarity platform elinor since 2018. This platform offers group accounts for environmental organizations, school classes, sports clubs and other initiatives of all kinds. Together with GLS Bank, the elinor team was able, for example, to support Fridays for Future by setting up a solidarity fund.
Falk Zientz is our second initiator and is part of the board of sustainable GLS Bank.
As board spokesman Felix is working on social networking at gut.org gAG since 2020. gut.org is a non-profit group of digital social enterprises that includes Germany’s largest donation platform betterplace.org and now also #UnterkunftUkraine. Felix recognized the potential of Lukas’ and Falk’s idea immediately and brought the coordination of #UnterkunftUkraine to the gut.org network on day three after the war began.
Step One
After you have registered your accommodation via the host form, the next step is to verify your identity. This not only contributes to the security of our platform, but more importantly to the protection of people in need.
Step Two
After your identity check, you will be contacted via phone by our call center as soon as a suitable accommodation offer has been found. This can take a few days or even several weeks and depends on the demand of the refugees.
Step Three
Only after your binding acceptance we will send you the contact details of the person seeking accommodation via mail. Now it’s up to you: You will contact the person(s) looking for accommodation and discuss the further procedure. Thank you for your support!
