Community Action Poverty Simulation
Community Action Poverty Simulation An interactive experience to enhance your understanding of poverty, your community, and the public policy that governs it. Ashley Trudnak, MSPH General Information Welcome! Don’t let the props and play money fool you! This is a simulation– not a game. The situations in which you will be placed are based on real families and real situations. You are going to experience what it’s like to live in poverty for a whole “month” Today’s Agenda Introduction to poverty as a societal problem—not just an individual’s problem Review objectives of the simulation Receive simulation instructions Review simulation ground rules, your responsibilities as a participant, and other simulation information Conduct the simulation Reflect, discuss your experiences, and how you will use what you’ve learned POVERTY IN AMERICA. IN NORTH CAROLINA. IN GASTON COUNTY. America’s poverty rate is 14.5% North Carolina’s poverty rate is 17.5% Gaston County’s poverty rate is 17.9% Poverty is considered a family of 3 living on less than $20,000 a year, or one person living on less than $12,000 a year People living in poverty are disproportionately affected by chronic health conditions, including substance abuse and mental illness Many people make assumptions about “poor people,” despite their never having been a “poor person” and truly understanding the struggles and barriers impoverished populations face every day Today, I hope this simulation can open your eyes to the assumptions, stereotypes, and discrimination poor people face every day Simulation Objectives Sensitize us to the day-to-day struggles of living in poverty or with low incomes Motivate us to become involved in activities and initiatives aiming to reduce or eliminate poverty in our neighborhoods, communities, and country Demonstrate public policy’s role in alleviating poverty and struggles impoverished people face Instructions and Information When you entered: You were assigned to a family unit and given a packet of information. You should have received a pre-assessment survey Fill out the pre-assessment and pass it to the facilitator Your family unit packet contains: A description of your family and its individual members Your sources of income, your possessions, and your bills Identification documents Various other items which you will need in order to survive Instructions and Information You’ll have about 10 minutes to review the contents of your packet. Study your instructions and your family description carefully; this defines who you are going to be for the next month We’ll circulate among you to answer any questions you may have; once the simulation starts, we may not be able to answer any questions At the end of the 10 minutes, we will blow the whistle and give you additional information about your responsibilities We will also introduce you to the community resources that are available to you around the room Ground Rules When figuring your budget or writing notes, use the blank paper in your packet. PLEASE do not write on any other materials that are not laminated. We reuse them. When the simulation is over, carefully return all materials in your possession to the family packet. Your one-hour month is divided into four 15-minute weeks, which will be designated by the whistle. When the whistle is blown, please STOP whatever you are doing and return to your homes until you are told to start your next week. The staffers around the room can call out the title of their business or service and what services they provide— pawnshop, bank, social service office, etc., or you may identify the resources yourself. Your Responsibilities Be as realistic as possible about your role. Act the age and position of the role you have been given. Remember: No healthy teenager likes to sit quietly at home A child who has not eaten all day will cry, complain, and act up at school A child is probably not knowledgeable enough to give his or her parents advice on where to seek resources Adults seeking work are often frustrated and irritable. Parents can get desperate in their search for food and shelter for their children. Try to think as you believe a person facing poverty would think More simulation information “Luck of the Draw” Cards In every family, “stuff happens.” Sometime during the month, one of the facilitators may visit your family with a “Luck of the Draw” card These represent the unexpected things that happen in all our lives-sometimes bringing good news, sometimes bad You are expected to follow the instructions on these cards More simulation information Transportation passes Transportation is one of the most critical barriers for families with low-incomes. Community resources are seldom neatly clustered within walking distance of your home. You will need bus fare, gas money, or walking time to move about. In this simulation, you cannot go anywhere without a transportation pass. We are fortunate to have a school bus in our community, so children will not need a transportation pass to get to and from school. The transportation pass represents the cost of transportation-be it public transport or, fuel and maintenance for a private vehicle, or the time and effort it takes to walk from resource to resource in your community. Each community resource will ask for a pass from you and each person with you before you can be served. Passes can be purchased at the Quik Cash (the currency exchange), as it is called in many states. More simulation information Community Resources At the various tables around the room are the community resources available to you. Your family will need to rely on these resources in order to survive the month. Please pay close attention to what each resource does as you don’t want to waste transportation passes going to the wrong place. Note that week three of the Simulation is a school holiday and there will be no school More simulation information Employment If you are employed full time, you will need to hand over 5 transportation passes, to represent getting to work every day of the week, and you must be at the employer for 7 minutes to represent your full time job. You must also be at work and ready to go within 3 minutes of the start of the week—so, if you’re employed– go straight to work after I blow the whistle. Otherwise, you will be considered “late for work,” and you may not get paid for that week… If you are employed part-time, you must work for 4 minutes and it will require 3 transportation passes– again, you must be on time More simulation information Terminology EBT = Electronic Benefits Transfer card, which is the Social Services Agency’s card for food stamps and cash benefits TANF = Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, which is the federal government’s program to provide cash to families If you have an EBT card, that means you are receiving assistance and the amount of your benefits is written on the back of the card. If you do not have a card, you MAY qualify for benefits (or not)– but you will have to go apply for them at the Social Services Agency More simulation information Your Goals Keep your home secure Feed your family on a regular basis Keep your utilities on Make all necessary payments Pay for miscellaneous expenses– and meet unexpected situations For families with school-aged children, you must ensure that those children are cared for while you work… More simulation information At the end of the simulation, you will be asked to complete a post-assessment survey We’ll also spend some time debriefing the exercise on a personal level Share some ideas and thoughts for community activities and initiatives Specifically, we’d like to discuss: What is our role in eliminating poverty, or at least improving the lives of those living in poverty? Reflecting and discussing your experience Complete the post-assessment survey and include comments about the following: The feelings and impressions that you experienced during this exercise List at least one thing that had a significant influence on you QUESTIONS? Let’s begin!
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