Leadership classes participate in Poverty Simulation

by Brian S. Gallatin, Public Information Officer, Medina County Commissioners

Several Leadership Medina County classes participated in Community Action Poverty Simulations (CAPS) during the week of January 9. On Thursday, Jan. 12, three classes — the Commissioners’ Department LEAD Institute Class, Signature Class, and Junior Leadership — met at the Western Reserve Masonic Community to partake in the activity. Understanding the day-to-day reality of poverty is important for everyone involved in fighting poverty. CAPS is a unique tool that helps people begin to understand what life is like with a shortage of money and an abundance of stress. During the simulation, participants role-play the lives of low-income families, including single parents, people with disabilities, and senior citizens on Social Security. The task of each family is to provide for food, shelter and other basic necessities during four 15-minute “weeks.” Families also interact with community resources. Although the activity uses “play” money, fictional scenarios and time limits, CAPS is not a game — it’s a simulation that enables participants to view poverty from different angles and then to discuss the potential for change within local communities. Upon entering the facility, each person was given a name tag assigning them to a “family.” Once we were all settled into our families, we were given packets with materials and instructions to read. The simulation is conducted in a large room where families sit in groups in the center. Tables surround the perimeter which represent community resources and services for the families. Among the services included were a bank, a super center, a Community Action Agency, an employer, a utility company, a pawn shop, a grocery store, and a school. The Aber Family, in which I was a member, consisted of a father, mother and their three children. I was the youngest in the family. For my personal experience with the simulation, the secondary article is written from my role-play of 8-year-old Andy Aber’s perspective. (I even dug up my school picture from when I was in second grade to accompany the article!) I enjoyed having the opportunity to participate in the Poverty Simulation. It was definitely an eye-opening experience.

Aber Family Profile

FATHER: Albert, age 42, computer programmer, with a college education, has been employed at the same company for 20 years. He was laid off four months ago and has been unable to find work. He was receiving unemployment compensation of $350/week, but this has now run out.

MOTHER: Ann, age 39, with some college education. Employed full-time as a receptionist at the hospital.

DAUGHTER: Alice, age 16, in good health. She is a motivated high school sophomore looking forward to going to college, but is pregnant and due in 2 months.

SON: Al, Jr., age 10. He ends up watching his younger brother even if he is too young because his sister takes off with her boyfriend.

SON: Andy, age 8. In grade school and gives his brother a hard time when he has to watch him.

SETTING: You live in a middle-class suburb in a three-bedroom home, which you are paying a mortgage. The house needs several repairs and insulation to help reduce your monthly utilities and make it more comfortable. You have student loans. You have two used vehicles. One is unreliable but paid for, and you are paying off a loan on the other. You have been using your credit cards as a means of survival while the father continues to look for employment, but now your cards have reached their maximum limit. Mother has health insurance through her work, but it is too expensive to cover her husband and children. They have no insurance at this time. During the third week of the simulation, the public school will be closed for holiday.

INCOME: Mother makes $9.00/ hour and works 40 hours/week, for a total of $1,440/month ($1,324 after taxes). You have $200 in savings.

BUDGET: These are the bills you must pay during each month:

HOUSING

Mortgage: …………………………….$500.00

Taxes: ……………………………………$60.00

Maintenance:………………………….$50.00

Total per month:…………………….$610.00

UTILITIES

Gas:…………………………………….$185.00

Electric:………………………………….$75.00

Phone: …………………………………..$25.00

Total per month:…………………….$285.00

STUDENT LOANS

Per month:……………………………$100.00

FOOD

Per week:……………………………..$110.00

CLOTHING

Per month:……………………………..$40.00

CREDIT CARD MINIMUM PAYMENTS

Per month:……………………………$150.00

AUTOMOBILE LOAN

Per month:……………………………$250.00

TOTAL MONTHLY EXPENSES $1,875.00

Below are some thoughts on the simulation from a few of my fellow colleagues:

“I think it is great that the Junior Leadership was included in this. It’s great that they have been exposed to this at such a young age.” – Patty Zaccardelli, Human Resources Assistant “

The teens who were in my group said, ‘Cool. This is like the game of Life.’” – Jonathan Shorie, IT Senior Network Analyst

“I thought that the poverty simulation was very ‘eye opening.’ It must be very difficult for people to live, especially now, on wages that don’t get them above the poverty line threshold.” – Salina Mills, Sanitary Engineer Accounts Receivable Clerk Supervisor

“It was refreshing to see so many young leaders at the simulation. They received exposure about poverty that I never knew existed until I graduated college and began my career in social services. It excites me to see tomorrows leaders being involved and informed.” – Steve Sikora, JFS Assistant Business Administrator

Excerpt used by permission from the Medina County Commissioner’s Newsletter at https://www.medinaco.org/medina-county-commissioners-january-27-2023-newsletter.