While it's commendable that the students want to relate to homelessness, I hope that someone is pointing out to them that they are seeing a very small part of the problem. I volunteer in a homeless shelter and see what homeless people go through on a day to day basis.
I would suggest that the students draw cards to see why they are homeless. Lost job? Foreclosure? Medical
bills? Mental Illness? Unwilling to work? Drug or alcohol abuse?
Then they should have to come up with a theory about how they are going to eat, and how they are going to get clothes and keep themselves clean.
These students came prepared...but no one is really prepared for homelessness. Some suffer the cold because they have no way to obtain a warm coat, hat, or gloves.
At the shelter we take care of these needs, through the kind donations of more fortunate citizens. However some people don't want to live in a shelter.
There are many, many problems involved in being homeless. I hope the students know that. With their community service hours perhaps they could become part of the solution.