The hospitality extended to Storm Russell could become more common with some effort
This is a two-part post, with the first part discussing a memorial held on November 25, 2023 and the second part reflecting on a 2022 article about an out-of-state volunteer in Door County: https://www.hmbreview.com/news/moss-beach-man-travels-cross-country-to-help/article_59552f60-b9bf-11ec-b6d1-c71bb6c26ca2.html
The fundraiser mentioned in the link was for a cause which polls in the U.S. as being more popular on the left than the right, but the business in question has supported other causes which are probably best seen as non-political for Americans. Recently, they advertised a fundraiser candle in commemoration of the 90th anniversary of when the Soviet Union killed millions of Ukrainians by taking their food so they would starve: https://www.nbc26.com/doorcounty/shining-a-light-on-history-door-co-company-remembering-the-holodomor-90-years-later
It mentions this year’s Holodomor Memorial Day on November 25th. The years are incorrect in the link’s bullet points, but are correctly stated further down. Since the artificial famine lasted two years, it can be thought of as having two 90-year anniversaries, this being the anniversary of the second year. This earlier article has the correct years: https://www.seehafernews.com/2023/11/18/door-county-candle-company-offers-limited-edition-90th-anniversary-candle/
In the 1930s, the killing was covered up by writers from several large publications: https://www.cato.org/commentary/holodomor-90-years-later
Various ethnic heritage organizations are trying to teach this history to the public, since only 24% of Americans are aware of it: https://holodomor90.com/holodomor-genocide-poll/
Going back to the first link, the volunteer lived not far from San Francisco, but felt compelled to come to Door County to help with the Ukraine candles. It states that he received lodging during his efforts. That he lodged for free shows that others reciprocated his efforts and goodwill.
What if a list could be made of all short-term rental owners and seasonal residence owners willing to host volunteers from outside the area? Charities could use the list to contact the listed owners in order to solicit them to house their volunteers without charge.
The downsides of short-term rentals are well known. Likewise, voluntourism has no shortage of criticisms, and some projects appear to do more harm than good. A solicitations list would be a rather small thing, and would not change the broader situation. Door County already has voluntourism, and one can hope that the people involved will make good decisions to the best of their ability.
Such a list could, in part, be compiled by adapting existing paperwork. On federal tax form, you can a check box for money to be contributed to political campaigns. Likewise, a checkbox could be added to short-term rental forms, asking whether the property owner would like to receive solicitations from charities looking to house volunteers.
Restrictions on how often a property can be rented means that there will be some percentage of a short-term rental’s time which will be unused. A solicitations list could help reduce the cumulative time in which properties sit unused. A list could also incentivize charities looking to schedule a voluntourism project to pick a time when things are less busy.
The Airbnb website has a “Donations” feature for people who need emergency housing, but it is not for voluntourism. Elsewhere it describes about “Hosting a Social Impact experience”: https://www.airbnb.com/help/article/1578
Although the Volunteer Center of Door County isn’t around anymore, there is a Volunteer Door County Facebook group. A list of property owners open to receiving solicitation could be made available as a link on the group’s page or on some other website.