Yesterday, we of Central Alberta Poverty Reduction Alliance (CAPRA) and the United Way Central Alberta joined forces to offer some Central Alberta folks an afternoon they won’t soon forget. The staff at Nova Chemicals, along with some other community members, participated in a “poverty simulation”, which is, essentially, the opportunity to experience one month in poverty, in one hour.
The participants were divided into “families”; each family had a story, characters, and a list of tasks they had to complete over the course of their month. It was incredibly interesting to see these teams strategizing on the best ways to get ahead, or even just to make it through. Some of them were robbed, some were taken to jail, while others were refused at social services, or turned away from school for not paying their fees. Some turned to crime, like theft or selling drugs; some stood helplessly crying as the eviction notice was pinned to their door.
During the post-experience debrief, participants had an opportunity to share the things that hit them the hardest, and what they learned. Here are some of the take-aways:
1. Poverty is a full-time job
Participants said they couldn’t believe how time consuming it is to get their basic needs met. Using public transportation takes extra time, and a lot of time was spent waiting in line, or following processes (“No, you have to go to intake first. Call this number and come back when you’ve got all your paper work” “You’re in the wrong line/at the wrong building/You don’t have the correct information with you/You don’t qualify”), or rushing from job to job and trying to sell items at the pawn shop in between, while the kids are at home by themselves. Even though the simulation only ran one hour, participants talked about how exhausting and frustrating it was. Imagine doing that for real, every day.
2. The “customer service” experience is very different
Participants needing to sell items at the pawn shop, or get a payday loan at the “Quik Cash”, or even trying to access government services, were often shocked at the treatment they sometimes received. Those of us a little “better-heeled” are not accustomed to being put down, shouted at, or dismissed – an all too common occurrence for people who live in poverty. Sticks and stones may break our bones, but words do definitely hurt, too, and a kind word of encouragement can make a very big difference in someone’s life.
3. Predators abound
Another shock was being charged 10 or even 30 times the price for things. Participants who were in a rush to get places, or found themselves in desperate need of a certain item, found themselves in a no-win situation, and ended up giving their last bit of cash to a rip-off artist who had what they needed. It was infuriating and disempowering, they said, to know they were being taken advantage of, but having no choice.
4. There’s no time for family
Is there any wonder kids growing up in poverty lack social and basic life skills? Participants said they were struck by how much time the “kids” in their family scenario spent at home alone, while they were out trying to make ends meet and deal with all of the extra issues that face people living below the poverty line. There’s a lot of judgement floating around in our society about parenting; participants understood more about why these children are lacking in their home lives, and why they may not have good parenting skills when it becomes their turn.
5. Food is often last on the list of priorities
During the debrief, one participant said: “Did anyone else just stop eating? We ate the first week, but then we just stopped eating so we could make ends meet.” Of course, their tummies weren’t complaining, since this exercise only lasted an hour, but in real life, this is also too often true. Food is one of those expenditures that becomes optional when times are tough (lest you’re thinking: “Yeah, but I know a whole lot of poor people who look like they haven’t missed a meal…” we could have a long conversation about the price of nutritious food vs the price of unhealthy food, but it’s a long one, so we’ll save it for another blog).
6. Affordable, accessible transportation is critical:
This truth was really driven home to the participants, with several mentioning its importance. “Big Dave”, at “Big Dave’s Pawn Shop” kept telling people to sell their cars instead of trying to hawk their jewelry, but the astute players knew that without their vehicle, life would be infinitely more difficult. Nonetheless, it is a fact that investing in public transit and transportation is an important poverty reduction strategy.
7. Desperation blurs moral lines
Many participants, especially as the “month” went along, began to look to less than legal means to try and make money, such as stealing, selling prescriptions or other drugs. Others made up stories to offer to front line workers, or sought a “work around” of the system. Often, people experiencing poverty are looked at as criminals, thieves, and cheats, as though their lack of moral compass caused their poverty. The poverty simulation offers a different perspective.
