Simulation raises awareness about poverty

Participants of a simulation had the opportunity to walk in the shoes of someone living in poverty.

Paula Craw, SFU’s Director of Service Learning, first brought the simulation to the University in January.

Craw participated in a poverty simulation in Johnstown and belongs to a “poverty network” in Altoona. Through a grant, she purchased a “Poverty Simulation Kit” and brought this event to SFU.

“For most of my career, I have worked in human services and I thought that I understood the plight that people felt,” said Craw. “But I never really felt that myself.

“Going through the simulation put me in their shoes.”

For many of the students, participation in the event was an eye-opener.  For others, it was simply a game.

“For me, it was stressful, even though it was not real,” said Matt Brown, a junior management major. “I had a girlfriend with a kid, I was in a homeless shelter, and I only made $6.50 an hour.”

Participant Emily Heckman said it was both stressful and frustrating.

“I was in the most stressful situation ever,” said Heckman, a junior psychology major. “It was so frustrating because I had all the money to do everything and was willing to do it, but everyone was moving so slow and I was not able to do what I needed to do.”

Senior psychology major Mike Hollen wasn’t sure if the event raised awareness.

“I struggled to see it as a simulation,” said Hollen. “I took it as a game and I was having a good time with it.”

Saint Francis shares the Poverty Simulation Kit with other organizations, including Catholic Charities, Life and Justice, the Altoona Area School District, Blair County Child Advocates and Bedford County Child Advocates.