Poverty Simulations
What is a Poverty Simulation?
Expanded and enhanced by the Community Action Partnership of Missouri, the simulation has been successful around the country in helping participants begin to understand what it might be like to live in a typical low-income family trying to survive from month to month. It is a simulation, not a game, By participating, you will have a greater understanding of the difficulties a family faces when living in poverty.
In the simulation, 20 to 85 participants assume the roles of up to 26 different families facing poverty. Some are newly unemployed, some are recently deserted by the “breadwinner,” and others are recipients of TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, formerly AFDC), either with or without additional earned income. Still others are senior citizens receiving Social Security or grandparents raising their grandchildren. The task of the “families” is to provide for basic necessities and shelter during the course of four 15-minute “weeks.”
Watch a video from our January, 2007 simulation by clicking on the image below.
More Information
Read an article by someone who participated in the simulation in Oklahoma.
Link to the Community Action Poverty Simulation’s website
Local Media Coverage
Television
Print
Did you know?
- A full time salary on minimum wage is $10,712 per year.
- To be self-sufficient, a single parent with two children needs $30,815 for basic necessities
- The Federal Poverty Level does not vary by geographic location
* Facts taken from the The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania 2006
Our Collaborators
The following organizations have worked with PSVP to host Poverty Simulations in the past.
We would also like to give a special thanks to the following agencies for assisting PSVP partners and staff with the planning of these events:
- Leadership Pittsburgh, Inc.
- Pittsburgh Cares
