A group of Howell High School students is taking a school assignment quite literally.
Their teacher wants them to learn about homelessness and the kids decided the best way to learn was to experience it themselves.
These 120 Howell high school students are spending the night outside.
The students are staying in cardboard boxes and the only food they have to eat, two peanut butter sandwiches.
Howell high school student: "If you get hungry you basically have nothing."
Cindy Perlman, Howell teacher: "no ipods, no cell phones, they turned all of that in when they checked in, they're allowed to have one sleeping bag, no pillows no toothbrush, no luxury items that they get really used to."
So these students are doing their best to make a box feel like home.
Howell high school student: "This is mine and Taylor's"
but they quickly learn...
Howell high school student: "It's not going to hold."
Most high school students in America go through life with the world on a string, never having to worry about a night without a roof over their heads. Hopefully by giving these kids a glimpse at what life is like for our state's homeless population, they will grow up to be more compassionate adults and join the fight to help fight homelessness.
To learn how you can help, visit the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness at mihomeless.org.