Author Yann Martel spends 36 hours on the street for Saskatoon homeless challenge

Cardboard makes a soft bed, tinned food is no good without a can-opener, hail isn't a novelty when you're homeless, and the public might avoid eye contact with you.

These are some of the lessons learned by a group of Saskatoon celebrities who spent 36 hours walking in the shoes of a homeless person as part of the Sanctum Survivor challenge.

As well as raising awareness about the realities of life on the street, the event raises money for HIV and AIDS care through the Sanctum hospice.

• Sask. doctors call for state of emergency over HIV rates
• Addiction, crime and HIV: Sask. faces crystal meth crisis

Yann Martel was part of the group that wore donated clothes and completed challenges such as getting an HIV test, managing diabetes and finding affordable accommodation.

The Life of Pi author, who slept on a playground slide at Kinsmen Park on Friday night, said he learned that small details can make a big difference during a night spent on the street.

"Cardboard is wonderful," he said.

"Last night at 10 to midnight, I could not sleep because I was on wood so we went hunting for cardboard. Cardboard makes a great little thin mattress."

Saskatoon artist and activist Zoey Roy, Saskatchewan Advocate for Children and Youth Corey O'Soup, and Saskatoon fire Chief Morgan Hackl were also part of the group of 10.

Over the 36-hour period, they panhandled to scrounge up enough money for meals and to clean their laundry.

The participants also shared their experiences through social media using the #sanctumsurvivoryxe hashtag on Twitter.

Hackl wrote in a tweet about an incident in which a couple he knew wouldn't look his way.

Martel was kicked out of lobby areas where he tried to sleep.

But he said he experienced a lot of kindness at the hands of the Saskatoon people he turned to for help.

"It's hard being homeless but I have to say I've met so many kind people," he said.

"People like to be kind."

The challenge wraps up at 6 p.m. CST on Saturday.

Money raised from the challenge will go toward building Sanctum 1.5, a 10-bed facility for HIV-positive women who are pregnant.

Sanctum said the goal of the new facility will be to prevent the transmission of HIV to the unborn baby throughout pregnancy and at birth.