An interesting account by a former Jesuit of his short experience of homeless life. From the article:

During my two memorable weeks on the street, I began to understand the depths of hopelessness into which a human being can sink. There were times when, yes, I wanted to get drunk, so that I would not feel so wet and cold, or so that at least I wouldn’t care so much that I was. I had always been wary of giving money to panhandlers because I figured they’d spend it on alcohol, but if someone had handed me spare change or a couple of bucks, I might have blown it at the nearest liquor store myself.

As the author acknowledges, deliberately “going homeless” for a few weeks is not the same as being stuck on the streets indefinitely, but it did provide him with a new perspective on homelessness.