Before We Get Started

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• Leave chairs in place. Sit with your “Family”

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• Open camera to access QR Code below. Click the link that appears in yellow and complete the survey.

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• After the survey, please PUT AWAY your phone.

• Keep your family profile packet CLOSED

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• Get to know your new "family"  ​

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[Click here to Add a QR Code Here]

Name it

“Pre Assessment [Location] [Year]”

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Click Here to copy this web address of the LHTCN Pre-Assessment Google Form�DELETE this Text Box after you have tested the links and QR Code!

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Poverty Simulation Experience

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Welcome to Realville, NY!

[Add Date]

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Facilitators

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with assistance from

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and support from

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TODAY

You will experience a simulation

of what it is like to live

in poverty or on low income...

the frustrations,

the challenges,

the decisions.

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UNDERSTANDING and EMPATHY

are

the FIRST steps toward making a difference.

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Objectives

• Create a deeper understanding & awareness of the challenges faced by the working poor and those living in poverty

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• Open a dialogue about poverty and its implications

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• Motivate the school staff and the community organizations to incorporate research-based engagement strategies with “poverty in mind” to create an atmosphere of trust, safety, and well-being with the students and families we serve in our classrooms and schools.

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2022 Poverty Guidelines

Family of 4

$27,750

annual income

for the 48 contiguous states and District of Columbia

US Census Bureau Historical Poverty Thresholds

Poverty Guidelines | ASPE (hhs.gov)

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Source: US Census Bureau and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services January 2022

�������������Children under 18 Living in Poverty by County� in 2022��Rockland 23,628 26% Sullivan 2,986 18.4%�Orange 15,848 16.6%�Ulster 5,015 16.3%�Dutchess 5,668 10.5%�Westchester 20,104 9.6%�Putnam 1,099 5.7%��Source: NYS Community Action Association Annual Poverty Report (2022)�

UNITED WAY ALICE�Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed

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Earn more than the US poverty level, �but less than the basic cost of living

New York State-2022

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United Way/ALICE Report 2020 New York State report; graph is based on 2018

UNITED WAY ALICE�Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed

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[Click Here for Link to NYS Data by County] County

Number of Households: _______

ALICE ____% of households

Poverty ___% of households

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UNITED WAY�[ County] �Household Survival Budget

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The bare minimum that a household needs to live and work today. It does not include savings for emergencies or future goals.

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A [add] County family of 4

(2 adults, 1 infant, 1 preschool age) would

have to make $96,624 to meet basic needs.

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2016 Point in Time Data, ALICE in Rockland County, United Way

�Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE)��

P – Census Places

At-A-Glance United for Alice State Report, United Way

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��[Name] School District  �Free and Reduced Lunches���

[add School Year Here]

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[cite LEA and school year here]

How Does this Poverty Simulation Work?

• The information in your packet will explain your family situation.

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• Resource agencies are located around the perimeter of the room.

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• When the simulation begins, your family must secure food, shelter, & other basic necessities during a simulated month in poverty.

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• We will debrief at the end.

PLEASE remember….

This is a simulation.

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The families

in this room

are based on

real lives.

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Ground Rules

• The month is divided into (4) 15 minute weeks and 3 minute weekends.

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• Treat materials carefully – we reuse them.

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• Use special markers on laminated forms.

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• When you hear the chime, �STOP and return home �immediately.

Your Responsibility

• Be the role you were assigned
• Bring your role to life!

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• Act the age/position of your role.

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• THINK the way you would if you were living in the situation described.

Transportation

• One of the most CRITICAL considerations for low income families
• Resource agencies are rarely within walking distance
• Transportation passes represent bus fare, gas money, taxi fare, or walking time

YOUR VEHICLE HAS DIED!

Cars break down.

If your family owns a car,

you are not able to use for this simulation.

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Just about everyone needs one (or more) transportation passes to go anywhere…exceptions: K-12 students,

visiting neighbors and facilitators.

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MORE are needed for those lucky enough to have a job!

Employment

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• Full time workers, 5 Transportation Passes (Mon-Fri)
• Must be at the employer for 7 minutes
• Part time workers, 3 Transportation Passes Must be at the employer for 4 minutes

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All employees must arrive at work within

3 minutes of the start of the week

If you show up 5 minutes late to work, �you will not get paid.

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Terminology

• EBT = Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card
• Social Service card for Food Stamps

(SNAP in NYS) and cash benefits

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• TANF = Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
• Federal program to provide cash benefits

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EBT cards are accepted only

at locations with an EBT sign.

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EBT Cards

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Some families have EBT cards;

other families obtain EBT cards during the simulation.

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The benefit amounts are noted on the

back of the EBT card.

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REMEMBER �YOUR GOALS

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• keep your home secure
• feed your family
• keep your utilities on
• make loan payments
• pay for miscellaneous expenses
• respond to unexpected situations

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WORK? report each week

CHILDREN? school or daycare

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Learn about the shoes you will be walking in today

Your packet includes

• your family profile
• your sources of income, bills, possessions, benefits
• ID documents

Please open & peruse your packets now for 10 minutes and start planning. When you hear the bell, STOP!

Introducing…

The Resource Agencies

There are many resources for you to access around the perimeter of the room

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• Don’t waste transportation passes going to the wrong place!

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• In Week 3, school will be closed for a holiday

What Will We be Doing?

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• You can come and ask us questions at any time

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• Sometime during the month, you may receive a...

LUCK OF THE DRAW card.

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“You never really know a man until you� understand things from his point of view, �until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” � Lee, H. (1960) To Kill a Mockingbird, J.B. Lippincott & Co

PLEASE remember….

The Poverty Simulation Experience is a simulation, not a game.

Let’s Begin

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When you hear the chime,

your 1st week begins!

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When you hear the chime again,

STOP and return home immediately.

You have 3 minutes each weekend!

The Resource Agencies have been instructed to ignore you once the bell rings - even if you have just handed them a transportation pass!

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Before we share our experiences...

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• Inventory the items that belong in your packet
• Anything missing? Note on a Post-It
• Items don’t belong? Place on reset table
• Paper for recycling? Place on reset table
• Return items to the packet and place at the designated location
• Family name tags will be collected; Agency nametags go in the packet.

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��Post Assessment��After returning simulation items, please take a moment to complete this survey using your camera phone once again.

Click Here to generate a new QR Code for Post Assessment

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Name it “Post Assessment [Location] [year]

Copy and paste over this code.

DELETE BOTH Text Boxes after QR Code pasted to the right.

Click Here for LHTCN Google Form for Post Assessment to copy into Web Address for QR Code:

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