Poverty Simulation gives inside view into life with low income

[AllegroRondo]

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5232545

http://www.communityaction.org/Poverty%20Simulation.htm

Poverty simulations give participants a taste of what it might be like to live in a low-income family. Leaving their real-world identities behind, groups of 40-85 participants assume new roles and life situations for around three hours. They must navigate daily tasks that would be familiar, if not for the limitations of having far fewer resources to draw on.

During four 15-minute "weeks," those assigned adult roles try to maintain their home, feed their family, send children to school, keep their utilities on, make loan payments, pay for daily expenses like transportation, handle unexpected emergencies and figure out how to access local support and resources. Participants playing children clamor for attention, go to school and imagine the trials of poverty from a child's perspective.

In just one evening of imitation poverty, real emotions build up. "Most people start off confident in their abilities," says Teresa Wilson of Missouri Association for Community Action. "But they often become angry and frustrated, because they feel like they're not being allowed access to resources they usually take for granted. Some ask, 'Why don't I have a debit card in here?' and I have to remind them they don't even have a bank account!"

Afterwards, trained facilitators lead participants and staff in a discussion. Participants reflect on their own ability to cope in a "state of poverty" and examine the issues and emotions raised by the interaction between the "poor" and community agencies. Staff sometimes share personal testimonials about their experiences in poverty.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. good class

it teaches empathy-and is good practice for what it will be like when the economy collapses.

[MADem]

4. The wealthy will do like Linda Lay in that case

Sell off a few of their dozen houses, and open a shop to unload the furniture!

Of course, they'll be lucky to get ten cents on the dollah!!

[flamin lib]

8. Just closed a gift shop because of a Chapter 13.

Brand new goods, never touched by human hands complete in the box with factory packing. Name brands and exclusive lines.

Ten cents on the dollar.

What would someone in poverty get for everything they had?

[MADem]

10. It's good to talk to old folks, alot of them know and remember

Anyone in their 80's has clear memories of growing up during the depression. The lucky ones had a wage earner in the family who had a city, county or state job--didn't matter what they did, from picking up trash or ashes to janitorial work, if ya had a job like that, at least you could make the rent. Anyone else was at the mercy of their employer, and when it got truly desperate, they'd fire people in a heartbeat, even if they were doing a good job, to hire someone willing to work for less. That was the era of "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without." Back then, they had hoboes, now we have homeless...same deal, really.

[Sammy Pepys]

2. I just hope people stick with the lessons learned

It can be way too easy to write something off because you know it's a simulation, and that you'll have your real life to return to later anyway.

[AllegroRondo]

6. It is primarily for government employees

who work with those in poverty, or who work in areas that directly affect those in poverty.

For example, the state representatives and aides who may wonder "why should I support a law that requires banks to give checking accounts to people with poor credit?" They can look back at the time in this sim and understand how important that account is for poor people.

[valerief]

3. Fascinating.

I'd like to see the whole of Congress experience it.

[Warpy]

5. Everybody who hasn't done this class involuntarily needs to take it

I've spent the last 2 1/2 years living on less than $900/month with a mortgage that took $560 of it. Practice made perfect, and I am now uncommonly good at poverty. My health is still in the toilet, but I am solvent, housed, clothed and fed.

As Repuglican economic policy nears its inevitable conclusion, I'm sure I'll be in a position to give many lessons to neighbors who haven't yet had to deal with poverty.

First lesson: learn to COOK.

[anarch]

7. I guess that's nice,

but hey, try being poor and uninsured when you or a loved one gets sick, and nobody is there to help you...try waking up day after day with the crushing weight of debt on your shoulders, along with all the creditors constantly harrassing you...try choosing between buying groceries and keeping the fucking heat on. I'm not sure if "around three hours" can really convey the depth of suffering that being poor entails.

But it's a nice gesture, anyway.

[flamin lib]

9. Dallas/Ft Worth tried something similar with local social workers.

Took all money and identification from them and dressed them in donated clothes. Then dropped them off in down town Dallas and told them to get to down town Ft Worth by the end of the day--about 40 miles.

Think about it.

[MadHound]

11. What I would love to see in this reality TV obcessed society

Is a reality show that is based on being homelesss, penniless and jobless. Take, oh say ten folks from upper middle class backgrounds, drop them off in a strange city, preferably in the middle of the night, with twenty bucks and the clothes on their back. No contacting friends or family allowed. First person with a steady job and a stable roof over their head wins.

I think watching what our homeless population has to deal with, for real, each and every day would wake up a lot of people.

[AllegroRondo]

12. "30 days" did something similar

the show's producer/creator and his girlfriend had to survive for 30 days on minimum wage jobs. The only apartment they could afford was a one-room hole. He found a job working construction, and got injured in only a week. She worked as a waitress, and managed to survive by 'stealing' crackers from her job to go with her peanut butter and canned beans. The found out quickly that if you get sick with no insurance its over for you.