CAPS Poverty Simulation

Could you survive a month in poverty?

According to the 2022 Census, 37.9 million Americans, 4.7 million of whom are children under the age of 18, live in poverty every day. In Yakima County, 16.5% of its population (approx. 42,250 residents) are currently living in poverty, earning less than the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) of $14,580 for individuals. Many more have incomes above the poverty line, but their incomes are still low enough to qualify for programs like Food Stamps (EBT Cards), and Medicaid. The recent economic downturn has seen unemployment rates rise and the use of emergency food pantries increase. In 2020, family homelessness increased in Yakima County by 20%, which is one of the largest such increases nationwide.

It is difficult for those of us who have enough, to truly understand the situations that families living in poverty experience every day—the decisions they have to make, and the fears and frustrations they feel. That is why we are inviting you to walk a mile in the shoes of those facing poverty by participating in the Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS) hosted by the Northwest Interprofessional Health Collaborative (NIHC).

• Promote Poverty Awareness – During the simulation, role-play a month in poverty and experience low-income families’ lives.
• Increase Understanding – After the simulation, you will unpack your learning and brainstorm community change.
• Inspire Local Change – Together, you can be a voice to end poverty in your family, friends, and community.
• Transform Perspectives – The goal of CAPS is to shift the paradigm about poverty away from being seen as a personal failure and toward the understanding of poverty as a structural failure of society.

The simulation enables participants to look at poverty from various angles and then recognize and discuss the potential for change within their local communities. As one participant commented, “This poverty simulation dramatically demonstrates how much time and energy many families have to give just to survive from day to day. It quickly dispels the myth ‘that people would do fine if they would only go out and get a job!’”

When: Friday, October 27, 2023, from 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Where: Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences – University Conference Center
Registration Required: https://CommunityActionPovertySimulation.eventbrite.com

This activity is open to all students participating in the Northwest Interprofessional Health Collaborative (NIHC) – PNWU, WSU, Heritage, and CWU