Notfairbnb is a brilliant initiative of Belgium’s Solidarité Grand Froid and TBNA Bruxelles, which are non-profit groups whose aim is to help homeless people live better lives while on the street. They provide material assistance, as well as psychological and social supports. The project, which hopefully won’t be scuttled by the real Airbnb, allows people to place faux reservations for a place in a doorway, a cardboard box, or an old mattress. Your financial contribution goes directly to homeless services. Take a look at the website (while it’s still up) and consider helping out.

Those of us who get to visit Europe for fun or work can easily forget the enormous problems that so many residents face. While we gadabout sightseeing or rushing to meetings, it’s all to simple to overlook the vulnerable people all around us.