Hosted by Piedmont CASA and the UVA Curry School of Education February 22, 2020 | UVA Aquatics & Fitness Center
80+ people participated
80+ people participated
In FY19, 86% of the children served by Piedmont CASA came from households living at or below the Federal poverty line. Most parents living in poverty are remarkably resilient and possess strong coping skills in the face of such adversity. But it is also clear that parents living in poverty face a range of issues their peers do not, such as a lack of access to jobs and services, a lack of affordable housing, high-crime environments, a lack of medical and mental health care, and isolation. These factors may act independently of each other but are also likely to interact. Too often, the problems of poverty are compounded when the system holds socially-excluded people responsible for their own marginalization.
Participants in The Community Action Poverty Simulation - or CAPS - assume the role of a low-income family member living on a limited budget. While trying to meet basic needs, participants interact with human service agencies, schools, employers, pawn shops, payday lenders, and the health care system.
Although play money is used, CAPS is not a game. It is a simulation that enables you to look at poverty from a variety of angles. It is a challenge for those who must struggle in it, and for our entire community.
Piedmont CASA President Alicia Lenahan welcomes everyone.
Learning their identity and meeting their families.
Derick Williams, Assistant Professor for Counselor Education, UVA Curry School
Stores and organizations introduce themselves and outline services.
Week one begins and so do the lines.
No one can be served without their transportation ticket.
PayDay Advance when the bills can't wait.
Working out a plan.
More lines.
Where do we go now?
It's hard to figure out the next step when resources are practically nonexistent.
Stretching money to pay the most pressing bills first.
Strategizing as a family.
Looks like the mortgage payment is late.
Another missing mortgage payment.
How are we going to make ends meet?
At the employment center.
A lot of waiting in line.
By the fourth week, folks are more stressed.
PayDay Advance is now doing a brisk business.
And evictions are beginning
Homeless.
The fourth week has ended and everyone is packing up, ready to debrief.
Breaking out into smaller groups to talk about their experience.
Because when we build strong children, we build a strong community.
