Brown County Home Solutions Coalition had a successful poverty simulation event in September with over 40 participants, and they have planned a second simulation with a date change to Saturday, October 29th.
Originally the second poverty simulation was scheduled for October 20th; however organizers have changed the date to October 29th allow more people to have the opportunity to participate.
The simulation will take place from 1:00pm until 4:00pm on the 29th at the Family Services Center, located at 901 Avenue B.
The Brown County Home Solutions Coalition planned the two poverty simulations in an effort to help others better understand what people go through in that type of lifestyle.“In order to heighten awareness in our community about the struggles faced by low-income families and families at risk of homelessness, we have planned to hold two poverty simulations that will help participants begin to understand what it might be like to live in a typical low-income family trying to survive from month-to-month,” said Good Samaritan Ministries Executive Director and coalition member Angelia Bostick in an email. “It is a simulation—not a game. The object will be to sensitize participants to the realities faced by low-income people.”
The coalition, which originally formed to research a possible homeless shelter for the county, is now focusing on moving forward in their commitment to assist area homeless individuals and families or persons at-risk of homelessness in Brown County, according to Bostick.
“The goal of the coalition is to help the homeless of the community to quickly regain stability in permanent housing; to break down agency silos; to increase local efficiencies; and, to leverage dollars across participating agencies,” Bostick said.
She also stated in the correspondence that Brown County Home Solutions intends to “place special emphasis on homeless prevention by helping families stay in their home through existing services and programs aimed at empowering people toward self-sufficiency.”
The coalition is currently working on putting together by-laws and setting up an account to receive monetary donations and continue to research resources to accomplish the group’s goals.
The poverty simulation also offers CEU and CPE credit. Registration forms for the simulations are online at ctoinc.org or call 325-625-4167 for more information.
