On November 3rd, The Guidance Center hosted a Community Action Poverty Simulation at the Johnsonburg Firehall. The event brought together 65 participants and volunteers to learn more about the everyday challenges many families in our region face.
What Is a Poverty Simulation?
The Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS), developed by the Missouri Community Action Network, gives participants a chance to see what it’s like to manage a household on a limited income. Each participant is assigned a family role and works through a simulated month, making decisions about housing, work, childcare, transportation, food, utilities, and other needs. Along the way, they run into unexpected situations and use community resources to help make ends meet.
While the simulation uses fictional scenarios and play money, the situations are based on real circumstances. The goal is to help participants better understand the barriers that can make financial stability harder to reach.
A Look at the Day
Kate Brock (Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties) and Stacie Clerkin (The Guidance Center) facilitated the training, and guest speaker Kelly Compton of Bradford, Pennsylvania, shared her perspective. Drawing on her professional and personal experience, Compton spoke about how economic circumstances can shape opportunities and education, and about the value of recognizing potential and helping open doors for individuals and families.
Stacie Clerkin, Program Director of The Guidance Center, also shared findings from the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) reports for the seven counties The Guidance Center serves: Cameron, Potter, Jefferson, Clearfield, Warren, McKean, and Elk. ALICE households are working and earn above the federal poverty level, but still find it hard to cover basic costs. Looking at the data county by county offered helpful insight into the needs of the communities we serve.
The simulation gave community members, service providers, and professionals a chance to experience some of the choices families face when money is tight, and it sparked good conversations about how we can better understand and support one another.
Thank You to Our Partners
The event was organized by Danielle Nelson, Stacie Clerkin, and Kate Brock. The Guidance Center partnered with the Community Education Center of Elk and Cameron Counties, the University of Pittsburgh, and the Community Foundation of the Northern Alleghenies, with additional support from a generous donation by the Dorris E. Stackpole Foundation.
Lunch was provided by Elk County Foods. We appreciate their great service and were glad to support a local business as part of the day.
Thank you to everyone who took part and helped make the day a success.
