How to experience being homeless
It made me
Empathetic 
"Living amongst the homeless was depressing and liberating."
How I did it: I was working full-time at a cafe in Philadelphia. When not at work I would ramble around town, documenting everything I saw in one of the several journals I kept in my pack. At night I would ride about 3 miles to a place in the woods. The area was called Fairmount Park. It was secluded and safe from the local "crack heads" and other dangerous types. Occasionally I would get a curious jogger who would check to see if I was okay, but for the most part it was a therapeutic experience.
Lessons & tips: -Do not sleep with other homeless people unless you are in a shelter. It's nice to have faith in your fellow humans, but a desperate homeless person can be very dangerous.
-Find a safe spot to sleep at night.
-If it is experimental, do it in the summer or in a warm climate.
-Become friends with other homeless folks around you and they will watch your back. If you have to, make-up a story so they will not be feel ashamed (don't tell them you are living on the street for the experience).
-Join a YMCA. They have great (and usually free) shower facilities.
Resources: -hammock
-YMCA
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