Poverty

Simulation

Jennie Tullos, Elizabeth

McPhail, and Kyle Van Dusen

What

do y

ou

know

about

pove

rty?

Are there stereotypes?

Where do these ideas

come from?

What class do you consider yourself in?

What d

o yo

u kn

ow

about p

ove

rty?Multiple

Choice

Most min. wage jobs are

held by:

a. Men

b. Women

c. teens

d. Pretty evenly split

Most people on welfare are:

e. Single mothers

f. Children

g. The elderly

The number of children

currently living in poverty:

h. 2 million

i. 5 million

j. 13 million

k. 20 million

True/False

Having any job is

better than no job at

all.

If you are a single

parent with 2

children, you can

support your family

making federal min.

wage.

People are poor

because they want

to be.

Definin

g

Pove

rty

Models of

Poverty

Relative Poverty: deprivation

relative to the standard of

living of others members of the

society- basic needs may be

met, but the person/family may

still be considered “poor” if

they have fewer resources,

opportunities, or goods

Absolute Poverty: severe

deprivation from basic

human needs (food, safe

water, sanitation facilities,

health, shelter, education,

information)

Definin

g

Pove

rty

Types of

Poverty

Generational Poverty:

people living in poverty for

two or more generations

(75% of the people living

in poverty are living in

generational poverty)

Situational Poverty: people

living in poverty for a short

time (unemployment,

chronic illness, disability,

divorce, or death of a

family member)

Definin

g P

ove

rty

Poverty is a lack of resources

with regards to:o Financial: Money to purchase goods

and services as well as assets like

credit, property, and equity.

o Emotional: The ability to control

emotions, especially in stressful

situations without engaging in self-

destructive behaviors

o Mental: The capability to process

information, evaluate situations, and

make decisionso Social Capital: Friends, family, or

backup resources that are accessible

in times of needo Role Models: Access to adults who

are nurturing and do not engage in

self-destructive behaviors (mentors)

Ors

hansk

y’s

Pove

rty

Thre

shold

Total yearly Income Threshold = $11,201

Pove

rty in

Nebra

ska

Fremont Nebraska

Children below poverty level 12.3% 14.5%

Poverty rate among people who did not graduate high school not in families:

33.2% 35.7%

Residents with income below the poverty level in 2007

10% 11.2%

Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2007

3.2% 4.8%

Start the

Simulation

Step 1: Draw Cards-Family Situation, Occupation, Child(ren)

Step 2: Pick Housing and Transportation

Step 3: Calculate Food Cost and Utilities

Step 4: Budget –Month One, Month Two, Crisis

Pote

ntia

l Food

Cost G

rid

Based on USDA standards

for 3 healthy meals a day.

Final D

iscu

ssio

n

What did you learn about

poverty? Where you surprised

by anything? Were these situations realistic

to you? Why or Why not? How can you make a difference

for low-income people that you

may encounter in your life? Who are some agencies or

programs who serve low-

income families?

Final D

iscu

ssio

n

oThe goal of this activity is to

provide an introduction to

the situation of poverty- it is

not a “how to” o We covered a segment of

budgeting but there are many

other life-skills one learns

when living in poverty

o It can take years to learn these

skillsoWe encourage you to

further investigate poverty

in your community, especially as it relates to

you and those you serve