The Poverty Simulation is a three-hour event that sensitizes participants to the reality and challenges of people (and people with disabilities) living in poverty in Marion County. Participants work together as members in low-income families to determine how to survive with little to no money, few resources, emergencies, health issues and more. This experience will help those in service professions understand the challenges of those served who may be experiencing poverty.

Attendees put themselves into the roles and lives of a family that is struggling to get ahead. Each person will receive an identity and are asked to play the role according to what they think that person would do. Each family has some assets and also expenses. Together the family members strategize how they pay their bills, get to work, get to school, feed their families and keep a roof over their heads. The people who run the businesses in the pretend town often throw barriers in the way of these families. Transportation is always a challenge. Earning a living wage is always a challenge. On top of that, there are medical issues that need addressed. The event is divided into 4, 15-minute “weeks.” It is like taking the gameboard, “LIFE,” and acting it out. It is a simulation- you release reality for a little while and imagine what life is like to live without enough.