Poverty Simulation

The poverty simulation is a unique tool that Community Action Agencies are able to use to educate everyone, from policy makers to local community leaders, about the day-to-day realities of life with a shortage of money and an abundance of stress. The Poverty Simulation is a tool made available to organizations that want to promote a greater understanding of poverty.

The poverty simulation is being utilized as an activity within the Family + Community Forum as a way to provide additional insight into the realities of living in poverty. Forum attendees will participate in the poverty simulation prior to the small group discussions on key issues facing their community.

During a simulation, participants role-play the lives of low-income families, from single parents trying to care for their children to senior citizens trying to maintain their self sufficiency on Social Security. The task of each family is to provide food, shelter and other basic necessities during the simulation while interacting with various community resources staffed by low-income volunteers.

Although it uses "play" money and other props, fictional scenarios and time limits, the poverty simulation is not a game. It is a simulation tool that enables participants to view poverty from different angles in an experiential setting, while empowering low-income volunteers by allowing them an opportunity to interact with leaders from their community.

The Community Action Association of Pennsylvania and its' members have facilitated numerous poverty simulations throughout Pennsylvania. Visit the Videos + Media page to view videos about the poverty simulation and the impact it has on the participants.

Poverty Simulation Details

The poverty simulation involves 44 to 80 individuals who take on the roles of members of 26 families, all facing a variety of challenging, but typical, circumstances. Some are homeless, others jobless, and some are suddenly faced with the responsibility of raising grandchildren. In addition, about 20 volunteers play the roles of resource providers such as social workers, loan officers, employers, grocers, utility collectors, police officers, teachers and more.

The program is conducted in a large room. Participants are seated in family clusters with community resources located at tables around the perimeter of the room. To start the exercise, each family is given a card explaining its unique circumstances and a small amount of money. It is then the families' task to provide food, shelter and other basic necessities by accessing the various resources during the course of four 15-minute weeks.

The activity lasts about two to three hours. It includes an introduction and briefing by a facilitator, the simulation exercise and a debriefing period.

Poverty simulation kits can be purchased through the Community Action Association of Pennsylvania. The kit contains an all inclusive set of supplies needed to execute a poverty simulation.