Decorated Manholes Raise Awareness Around Europe’s Homeless

Milan-based street artist and activist Biancoshock is using his latest project, called Borderlife, to raise awareness around Europe’s homeless population. The artist transforms emptied manholes across Italy into tiny, decorated living spaces—complete with clocks, potted plants, and other household appliances. The cramped underground spaces remind passers-by that many of their less fortunate neighbors live without homes and are forced to dwell below ground. Head to …

California’s Homeless Find Peace in Libraries

In a world dominated by the internet and social media, being homeless often means being detached from anything that’s not happening in the immediate vicinity. For many of the homeless people living in California, public libraries serve as a type of sanctuary where many go to learn, imagine and connect with the world. In 2014, National Geographic traveled to several of these Californian libraries, profiling …