Poverty Simulation
What is a Poverty Simulation?
In a poverty simulation, participants take on the role of a person living in a low-income community. They are given a packet that tells them their family structure and circumstances and the family’s financial situation. Participants must get through four 15-minute “weeks” and do what families everywhere do: Go to work if they have a job, get any kids to school, feed the family, pay the bills, and keep the family safe. Challenges arise over the “month,” to which families must respond. After the “month” is over, participants engage in an extensive debriefing discussion about what they learned.
Why Participate?
Promote Poverty Awareness
During the simulation, role-play a month in poverty and experience low-income families' lives.
Increase Understanding
After the simulation, you will unpack your learning and brainstorm community change.
Inspire Local Change
Together, you can be a voice to end poverty in your family, friends, and community.
Transform Perspectives
The goal of a poverty simulation is to shift the paradigm about poverty away from being seen as a personal failure and toward the understanding of poverty as structural, a failure of society.
Who Should Participate?
Anyone interested in increasing empathy for their neighbors, friends, and family members.
- Church Groups
- Legislators
- Colleges
- Community Decision Makers
- Youth Groups
- Corporate groups interested in team building or increasing DEI awareness
- Civic Organizations
- Non-Profits
What Past Participants Say
Sign Up Today!
ICAA facilitates Poverty Simulation Experiences using the Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) tool for groups across the state. For more information or to plan a Poverty Simulation in your community, please email Katherine Harrington to get the conversation started.