Students simulate poverty

from The Ball State Daily News

Fake money, food stamps were used to purchase goods
Jessica Husek

Ball State University students found out what life at the poverty line is really like at the poverty simulation Wednesday.

Simulation Facilitator Kyra Hainlen said the Department of Social Work and TEAMwork for Quality Living held the event.

"The exercise is designed to give students a hands-on look at the realities of living in poverty," she said.

About 76 students showed up, Hainlen said.

Each participant is assigned a role in a family such as an unemployed single mother, she said.

Each family of about four members are at or are just above the poverty line, Hainlen said. In other words, they are making too much money to receive government aid, but not enough to meet the needs of their family, she said.

Sophomore elementary education major Emily McKenna said she played the role of an unemployed single mother.

"I learned how hard you have to work to manage your money," she said. "You can't take things for granted."

The families have to navigate their way through "Realville," a simulated town for an accelerated month where 15 minutes equals one week, Hainlen said.

Students got fake money and food stamps to purchase goods and services in the town, she said.

Senior women's studies major Kestrel Jones said her pretend family struggled through the experience. She played the role of a teenage daughter in a no-income family, she said.

"It was very hard to live on no income at all," Jones said.

After the exercise was complete, participants gathered together to talk about how they felt during the experience and how they spent their money.

Junior social work major Carrie Summers said it's important for people dealing with poverty to have a support group.

"They need people on their side who can teach them how to handle their money effectively," she said.

Another simulation will take place Oct. 24 in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center Ballroom, Hainlen said. Students wanting to attend need to pre-register with SVS, she said.