Step inside poverty--See it, feel it, live it.....understand it.

[bobbolink]

Subject: Poverty Simulation--Learning empathy
Message:
http://communityaction.org/Poverty%20Simulation.htm

Step inside poverty--See it, feel it, live it.....understand it.

The Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) 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. CAPS is a copyrighted tool made available by the Missouri Association for Community Action to organizations that want to promote a greater understanding of poverty.


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.

[sam sarrha]

1. I was a VISTA Volunteer at Jefferson-Clallam Community Action Council, i was the Emergency Services

Coordinator for the North Olympic Peninsula for 2 1/2 years in Port Townsend WA.. i built Food Bank Warehouses, started FDA surplus distribution sites, acquired surplus and donated food... over a Million Pounds. i also worked on their homeless shelter system.. we got trailers donated for a dollar which the JCCAC registered as property and then we billed ourselves the going rate of $50 a nite for each trailer in use with the federal and state money. the money was put back into the homeless program for helping people get what was necessary for work and transportation.. instead of throwing the money away to absentee landlords in the local motels.

there was a trailer court right across the road and they gave us great rate as long as the park wasn't full.. then a reasonable discount.. i took our all the gas stuff and put in all electric stuff. a local church took care of cleaning the trailers and helping with necessary transportation, we supplied an address so the homeless families could get assistance, i provided them with food and 6 or 8 food banks on the penninsula..

it was the happiest time of my life... JCCAC helped a lot of people in a lot of different ways, from assisting Vets in getting their benefits, emergancy dental assistance, the place was a blessing for many.. we had a lot of wonderful people working there... Mark R... was a wonderful boss and and a life long inspiration. i miss them

[bobbolink]

10. Thank you so much for posting this, sam sarra!

I'm so glad that you were able to get people to do this kind of thing...it's exactly what I've had in mind with the trailers, rather than "throwing money away", as you put it!! But, I can't get anyone to hear me.

I don't know when this was, but I'm guessing quite a while ago, as people now mostly don't give a shit.

Thanks again.... you did good! :applause:

[sam sarrha]

24. 1985-87... Volunteers In Service to America.. 2 year contract with a Stipend and insurance.. i also

did a second Tour in VISTA in Elko, NV i was an acting Juvenile Parole officer, and counselor at the Nevada Youth Training Center, i took the position to teach meditation in the prison, with Miraculous good results.. that were NOT well received, i went to Africa in the Peace Corps, in the past i also volunteered at a school for retarded children while in college and and in a Hospice, and i was a Texas Master Naturalist.. 2000-2004 we taught and informed people about the states environment/echology and assisted in the Eco low water/ natural ecoscape landscaping program, i also did some demonstrations and exhibits at the Zoo with my Carnivorous Plant Collection.. i used to work with the Boyscouts..Eagle Scout with palms, OA and GAC... but they got into funky politics.

i am genetically altruistic, and Clairvoyant. i have Aspergers Syndrome and i am right brain/Analogically dominant. i have an IQ of 164 but i am functionally illiterate. and a technical savant, i worked at Shell research development and Boeing Space, F22 and Delta3.. presently working in aerospace, but it is difficult to pass a job interview.. i can not make eye contact or read body language or voice inflection, identify faces or figure out anything involving social interaction.. i am a high functioning autistic with good language skills, i communicate thru my actions, i am synesthetic, i think visually.. and somewhat hyperactive,still at 58. hyperactive people can achieve and experience a lot in their life with a little opportunity

[bobbolink]

26. Yes, that was still the time when more was being done. Do you know if any of it still exists?

Unfortunately, I'm guessing not... :(

Thank you for sharing so much about yourself. You have, indeed, accomplished much, and I am really pleased to know what you have done! :toast:

You have been through so much, and keep caring about others. I'm honored to know you!

:hug:

[sam sarrha]

29. i am sure vista is still around.. a CAC can ask for a VISTA if they have someone in mi

just contact Peace Corps/Vista.. i believe they are in San fransisco ,CA maybe elsewhere also, VISTA is domestic peace corps.. just google them, people just dont know about them

[catmandu57]

2. I don't need a simulated program I'm already there

It's not the grinding soul crushing poverty that it could be only because I'm crippled and therefore can collect SSI, so i'm better off than many people, but I've been there before and I live in fear of being there again. I'm too damn old to survive like I did before.

[bobbolink]

11. I'm too old, too, and I'm giving up. This is all shit.

However, I'm sorry that you couldn't see that I posted this to try to get some AWARENESS among LIBERALS who DON"T GET IT.

This program, obviously, isn't about US---it's about them growing a heart.

[Matsubara]

44. Thank you for posting it.

And I know exactly what you mean.

[Breeze54]

3. I've been living it as a single parent for years and

gave up fighting tooth and nail for court ordered child support. :grr:
Fucking courts!!!

This is a great idea!
A lot of DU'ers need to try this, IMHO! As do all of the RW!!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[brer cat]

6. For sure, every judge in America

needs to participate in this! It is a crying shame that so many single parents can't get child support. My daughter is there too, and it makes my blood boil!

[Breeze54]

7. I hear that! The courts do NOT enforce the orders!

It's astounding to me!!!

Every time it went to court, my ex-husband would quit his "over the table' job
but wouldn't report the money from 'under the table' and we'd get screwed!
"We", meaning my sons! Now B* has cut the Child Support Enforcement budget!
They never did much anyway but send me letters saying, "Tough luck, Chuck!" :grr:

I hope your daughter can make some head way. :hug:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

35. I was unemployed for years and had to pay my hubby child support!

He insisted on getting custody in the divorce and making me pay child support when he was the one with the good, steady job. I have far more education than he does. He was doing everything he could to destroy me and my family -- he punished me for 18 years for my crime -- having a beautiful, bright, healthy child WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION, while we were married.

He wanted me to donate money to send the child to college. I said NO. I had paid private school tuition and child support for years.

He also destroyed a college fund my parents had set up for my child. He did this by suing my parents during the divorce. He was warned by their attorney that if he sued my parents, he was jeopardizing his child's education by suing my parents, because they had to liquidate that trust fund to finance their legal defense. He did it anyway. He tried to get my father's law license yanked as part of this legal action. My parents were quite old at the time.

And we never said an unkind word to this SOB...l.what would he have done if we had been mean to him? I don't know.

[bobbolink]

12. Absolutely! Get churches to use this for education, community groups, etc.

All those Optomists, etc---these are the people who need to have their eyes pried open!

[bryant69]

4. Common People

By Pulp

She came from Greece, she had a thirst for knowledge
She studied sculpture at Saint Martin's College
That's where I caught her eye
She told me that her Dad was loaded
I said "In that case I'll have rum and coca-cola
She said "fine"
And then in 30 seconds time she said
"I want to live like common people
I want to do whatever common people do
I want to sleep with common people
I want to sleep with common people like you"
Well what else could I do?
I said "I'll see what I can do"
I took her to a supermarket
I don't know why
but I had to start it somewhere
so it started there
I said "pretend you've got no money"
but she just laughed
and said "oh you're so funny"
I said "Yeah
Well I can't see anyone else smiling in here
Are you sure
you want to live like common people
you want to see whatever common people see
you want to sleep with common people
you want to sleep with common people like me?"
But she didn't understand
she just smiled and held my hand
Rent a flat above a shop
Cut your hair and get a job
Smoke some fags and play some pool
Pretend you never went to school
But still you'll never get it right
'cos when you're laid in bed at night
watching roaches climb the wall
if you called your dad he could stop it all
yeah
You'll never live like common people
You'll never do whatever common people do
You'll never fail like common people
You'll never watch your life slide out of view
and then dance and drink and screw
because there's nothing else to do
Sing along with the common people
Sing along and it might just get you through
Laugh along with the common people
Laugh along although they're laughing at you
and the stupid things that you do
because you think that poor is cool
Like a dog lying in a corner
they will bite you and never warn you
Look out
they'll tear your insides out
'cos everybody hates a tourist
especially one who thinks
it's all such a laugh
yeah and the chip stain's grease
will come out in the bath
You will never understand
how it feels to live your life
with no meaning or control
and with nowhere left to go
You are amazed that they exist
and they burn so bright
whilst you can only wonder why
Rent a flat above a shop
Cut your hair and get a job
Smoke some fags and play some pool
Pretend you never went to school
But still you'll never get it right
'cause when you're laid in bed at night
watching roaches climb the wall
if you called your dad he could stop it all
yeah
You'll never live like common people
You'll never do whatever common people do
You'll never fail like common people
You'll never watch your life slide out of view
and then dance and drink and screw
'because there's nothing else to do
I want to live with common people like you.....

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Matariki]

38. William Shatner! That's actually a great album.

the title track, Has Been is great too. And You're Gonna Die - love that.

[brer cat]

5. This sounds great!

Until more voters really understand poverty, it will not be high on their priority list for their candidates. I am simply appalled at how many people just don't "get it" when it comes to poverty.

K&R. Good find, bobbolink!:hi:

[bananas]

8. In 1983, San Diego Mayor Maureen O'Connor spent several nights incognito as a homeless person

Known affectionately as "Mayor Mo".
Wikipedia:

In 1983 she ran unsuccessfully for mayor against Roger Hedgecock, but won in 1985 after Hedgecock resigned under a cloud of scandal. O'Connor was the first female mayor of San Diego and served until 1992. O'Connor once spent a few nights incognito with the homeless to see first-hand on how they are doing. A nun recognized her and whispered to her that "if you want to conceal your identity, you should remember that homeless women don't read the financial pages."<1>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maureen_O'Connor_(California_politician)

[bobbolink]

13. Yes, there were people in those times who did that sort of thing.

Not now.

And, it needs to be spread to the whole population until they GET IT.

Which is why I posted this... hopefully there will be a few DUers who will follow up on this, and get it used in their community until peoples' eyes are pried open!

[Breeze54]

15. It's just so much easier to not pay attention and then

villify custodial parents though!! :sarcasm:

Those lazy welfare moms and all! :sarcasm:

[bobbolink]

16. Of course, you are right on target! But, widen that target--it's not just one group, it's ALL us

poor folk!

I've been vilified over and over, and I'm *NOT* a "custodial parent" (my child was kidnapped, so he wouldn't have to pay)

Disabled people on assistance and low-income housing get it, as do elderly people who need assistance.

People, and that includes liberals! have lost their hearts, and don't miss them.

[bobbolink]

17. Part of it is the fault of us poor folk.

As I said to a minister, we (poor folk) haven't stood up strongly and made noise.

We haven't disrupted their daily lives in any way.

We haven't nailed our 95 complaints to church doors.

Unless/until we all come together and shout BASTA!, we are easily ignored, and that includes right here at DU. The few of us who *do* speak out are easily seperated out and vilified.

We quietly suffer, and die quietly, one by one, like good little serfs.

[Breeze54]

22. I was loud and clear when Clinton did the cuts to Welfare!

I understand what you're saying.
I worked with attorney's ( in protesting Clinton, back then!! ) ;)
I was among the protestors taking over the state house!

http://www.mediaresearch.org/cyberalerts/1997/cyb19970813.asp

The Road is Long

http://www.dollarsandsense.org/archives/1999/0799activeculture2.html

The welfare rights group, Welfare Warriors, discovered during their May week of action against
welfare cuts that it is easier to win the attention of police than of politicans, potential
demonstrators, or the press.

In Milwaukee, Welfare Warriors protested the privatization of welfare services by picketing four
of the new welfare offices run by private companies for the state. The private companies decide
who gets benefits and who does not.

But protestors were outnumbered by law enforcement agents, many wielding video cameras, anxious
to limit the demonstrations, reports Pat Gowens, director of the Welfare Warriors’ Milwaukee chapter.

Politicians and the media, by contrast, ignored the protest, Gowens reports.
"Though the events were highly publicized and announced to the press, no press showed up."

In other states, activists held public marches, celebrated Mother’s Day with barbecues, or satirized
the flaws of welfare policy with puppet shows and skits. In San Luis Valley, Colorado, activists
held a circus to further involve the public in the defense of welfare rights.

The Welfare Warriors are circulating a petition to lift the state and federal laws limiting
benefits to 21 to 60 months. The group also wants states to allow all welfare recipients to
attend school or training programs instead of work programs. Welfare Warriors 937-275-7259
(Milwaukee) or 414-342-6662 (Michigan)

— Brian Kelly

Issue #224, July-August 1999

----------------------------------

snip-->

Advocacy: Oh Yes, You Can...
Volume 7, Issue 2
December 2000

Framing Social Policy
by William A. Gamson

http://www.nonprofitquarterly.org/section/156.html

The Coalition decided to challenge the emerging media coverage. In Massachusetts, welfare reform had produced one of the more restrictive programs in the nation while at the same time putting few services in place to support the thousands of welfare recipients being hustled into low-wage jobs. According to Ryan and Meinhofer, single mothers on welfare were arriving in the workforce in increasing numbers without adequate childcare. “In short, Sophia Dixon was not a rarity. More families would suffer if the state did not address the need for state-subsidized quality childcare. The . . . Coalition saw an opportunity to place Raheem’s tragic death in the context of the existing structural problems with Massachusetts’ welfare reform.”

The Coalition pulled together a working group (“media caucus”) that included Coalition staff, three MRAP staff members, Raheem’s family, neighborhood social service providers and resident leaders of the public housing development including a grandmother working to establish training for family day care providers. Over the next two months, the Coalition implemented a successful media campaign that challenged the dominant framing of the incident, reframing it as a crisis in the provision of childcare.

[bobbolink]

25. I don't care what the rest of 'em say, you're TERRIFIC, Breeze54!!!

:toast: :hug: :toast:

You've sent some GREAT articles to this thread! I hope they get read, far and wide.

Actually, these deserve a thread of their own. I hope you'll post 'em, and alert me so I can respond!

I know how hard it is to bring together a group like that, and I'm really impressed with your efforts!

Have you seen the video, "Day's Work, Day's Pay"? It's about a group in New York who came together around that whole Clinton Welfare Deform mess. IN the small group in that video, there were at least two deaths from those cuts. :cry:

Thanks!! :applause:

[Breeze54]

27. Here's one that's appalling!!!

"For the first time in 60 years, lawmakers voted that
the federal government should not intervene when
children face starvation or homelessness."

Standing Up to Fight for Welfare Rights

by Adolph Goodman
http://www.penn-partners.org/wp/k12/wphs/qwest/welfare5.htm

Harrisburg-

March 26, 1996 was the time to stand up & fight back against under staffing and fight back
for patient care. Pennsylvania is low in funding and Governor Tom Ridge was going to find
the funding in cutting 260,000 people from Medical Assistance (MA).
It was time to battle: Community vs Governor Ridge.

The Senate Finance Committee was about to pass a bill on "welfare reform" on March 26.
It eliminates a federal safety net for children established by the Social Security Act of 1935.

For the first time in 60 years, lawmakers voted that the federal government should not intervene
when children face starvation or homelessness.

Many clients, welfare groups, unemployment councils, hospitals workers, labor unions,
lawmakers and the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania(HAP) held protest rallies.
At the 11th hour, a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers in the State House overwhelmingly voted
down the cut and sent the measure back to committee.

Busses were filled on 1320 Locust Street and in other locations around Philadelphia.
Greyhound buses left the locations at 9am. Bro. Skief sent a reporter from West Philadelphia High
to witness the voices in Harrisburg. People came on, and the scene fired up around the capitol,
on the steps inside and at the welfare office. At least one thousand people committed this day
for themselves and the care of people of the state.

"This affects black and white," said by Henry Nicolas, the president of 1199-c Hospital workers union.

"One Hundred people at the welfare office, we as people united can't be defeated.
We are here because we have a commitment to be in Harrisburg." Pastor Wells prayed for people
to come out and support the message going in the capitol. The Department of Heath and Human
Services estimates that 4 million children would lose welfare benefits under a provision of
the bill that cuts off families after five years. This bill, and its counterpart in the house,
both sharply cut supplemental security income benefits for disabled children.

Coaty Anderson, the president of "WHATam" radio station, said,
"I am hear to show support for the people. Today, more than welfare is being cut.
When our people stand up against what's right, I like to be part of the celebration.
I feel for families and homelessness."

More at link.........

:hug:

[bobbolink]

18. wrong place...

zappo...

[Sapphire Blue]

9. The total price of the CAPS kit is $1,350.

http://communityaction.org/PDF%20Files/Poverty%20Simulation/License%20Agreement.pdf

$1,350?!?!?

I wonder if those who can afford it would care enough to purchase it?

Why not give them a 6-mo experience for free? Confiscate their income & assets for that period of time. :evilgrin: They can experience poverty up close & personal by living in it.

[bobbolink]

14. "Confiscate their income & assets for that period of time."

I really do like the way you think!!

You're so devious.... :hug: :loveya: :hug:

I didn't see the amount, but that is nothing for a Ecumenical group of churches, or a statewide Optomist group, etc.

[cmd]

20. I was ready to purchase one until I saw the cost

Unfortunately it is out of reach for me. I'm more of a $13.50 budget. I will pass this along to some who may be able to afford the kit. Thank you.

[bobbolink]

21. Thanks, cmd!!

Yanno, maybe a bunch of us could get to gether and write to them, and say "What gives with the ???"

I think it's really expensive to put out a video, but..... something like this needs to be done so badly!

Thanks so very much for spreading the word around!! Really, a state Optomist club, or an ecumenical group of churches could do this.

In the meantime, I'd like for us interested folk to be doing some brainstorming about this.

There is a dearth of videos about poverty, and we need to figure out what we can do about that.

There is a good, short video on "budgeting" minimum wage (yeah, right!) on the Catholic bishops site, but the library won't let me get to it. GRRRRR... guess they heard the bishops were pervs... hehehe

Sapphire Blue knows it, and maybe she can post the link here. However, it's only on their website, so we need to have videos like it that can be shown in church groups, community groups, etc.

Thanks again!

[Sapphire Blue]

34. CCHD Poverty Tour (Budgeting for Poverty)...

http://www.usccb.org/cchd/povertyusa/tour.htm

[Sapphire Blue]

33. What better way to provide someone w/a real understanding of what it's like?

And it wouldn't cost them a thing! :evilgrin:

(fyi - I found the price in the 'license' link. )

[deutsey]

19. I grew up in poverty

It ain't pretty.

My mom was a waitress at a diner, her husband unemployed and addicted to drugs...

[bobbolink]

23. Some of us here understand, deutsey!!

We need to all pull together, and start making some noise about this!

There are enough of us poor folk right here at DU to be able to rock a boat or two...

[deutsey]

37. Yes, there are...if we ever got organized we could shake some foundations

to the core.

[SammyWinstonJack]

32. I grew up with two parents who were factory workers in the 50's 60's and 70's, we weren't

rich by any stretch of the imagination. And they belonged to strong Unions. We were a family of six, four kids and two adults. We weren't destitute, but we were not rich. We struggled to makes ends meet. My dad, a life long Democrat has nothing good to say about Eisenhower and Reagan.

[Breeze54]

28. Error: You've already recommended that thread.

;)

[brer cat]

30. Error: You've already recommended that thread.

Yes, but we can kick it! Go bobbolink!

[nam78_two]

31. K&R.nt

[midnight]

36. Poverty should be outlawed. Every state budget should

mandate for real living wages, and jobs. Do not continue with that Nafta crap. Creating havoc.

[mntleo2]

39. Thanks For Posting This Bobbolink!

I am an advocate for low income people and while I do not like the "tourist" aspect of this as one sharp poster mentioned, I still do not think it would hurt to try it out and see what it is like. food stamps at this time allow $1.19 per meal per person, a meal for a family of four should cost $4.76 including milk on food stamps. You try to feed your family while spending this little and you will come close to understanding why there is poor health, obesity (starches stretch things), tooth decay, and low self esteem that goes along with poverty.

Still I think it is a good idea to go out there and see for yourself what it is like, because, even if you always know you are not there forever, which most people in poverty do not have the luxury of knowing, you will still get a glimpse of what it is like.

BTW, I was a VISTA volunteer as well, and it is still in existance. It is a very good way to see what is going on ~ and I am in my 50's. The oldest ViSTA volunteer we had was in his 80's, so you just don't have to be young to do it. It is well worth a year or two out of your life to learn about what is going on in poverty in America.

Cat In Seattle

[Breeze54]

40. Kudo's and hugs to you...

:hug: For all the good work you have done!

[kineneb]

41. we don't need a "simulation"

it is our reality: Hubby is on dialysis, and we live on his SSDI. We went through Chapter 7 bankruptcy last summer, and with help from my family still have the house and car. But our assets were already long gone, due to the WorldCom layoffs in 2002- Hubby was never able to find a job, and was too "old" and ill to be hired. I have just applied for disability due to my mental health status (depression/panic) and will have to wait until the fall to hear from SocSec. We qualify for the free food give-away.

It has been a fight all the way, and some days I just get too exhausted to cope.

[Breeze54]

42. That has to be exhausting.

I know it is. I've been through similar.
Fighting bureaucracy is debilitating in itself! :hug:

[Matsubara]

43. I'm struggling to feed a family of 4 on one income of $26K/year...

I really don't need to be any more impoverished to understand it. It's a disgrace that there are actually Americans working full time, and struggling on HALF what I make!

People who balk at raising the paltry minimum wage should be forced to try to live on it for a year.