This event has been cancelled due to lack of enrollment. 

Poverty Simulation is a unique and powerful experience which challenges perceptions, changes perspectives and strengthens understanding.

Have you ever wondered what it feels like to live in poverty? How easy it is to fall into, or the challenge it is to get out of? A Poverty Simulation is an opportunity to further your own understanding of the effects of poverty in our community and how your contribution to United Way can improve the lives of families and individuals in our region.

The simulation is a role-playing experience where participants are given a family role to portray one of 26 fictional low-income family scenarios that range from single parents with one small child to seniors receiving AISH supports. The ultimate mission of each of these families is to provide food, shelter and other basic needs with a limited income.

Participants experience a full range of encounters, obstacles and challenges, while trained volunteers populate the simulation as business owners, teachers, police officers, agency workers, service providers and government employees.

The simulation replicates a month in the life of a family living in poverty. The ultimate mission of each of these families is to provide food, shelter and other basic needs with a limited income.

The Reality of Poverty In Our Community

• 1 in 7 persons in the Alberta Capital Region live in poverty
• As of May 2023, 3,014 people are experiencing homelessness in Edmonton, over double the number of people experiencing homelessness in 2019.
• As of 2023, Edmonton’s Food Bank is serving over 30,000 people per month through their hamper programs. In November of 2022, they served a record number of 35,623 hamper recipients.
• Poverty is stressful! Canadians in the lowest income group are 3 to 4 times more likely than those in the highest income group to report poor to fair mental health. (End Poverty Edmonton)

BARRHEAD POVERTY SIMULATION

MARCH 1^ST 2024

BARRHEAD COMPOSITE HIGH SCHOOL

5307 – 53^rd Ave Barrhead AB

TO REGISTER AS A VOLUNTEER OR PARTICIPANT PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINKS:

Web participation website: https://donate.myunitedway.ca/event/barrhead-poverty-simulation/e550549

The volunteer registration link remains the same: https://d1u000000ttphuai.my.salesforce-sites.com/volunteers/GW_Volunteers__VolunteersJobListingFS?Calendar=1&jobId=a0T1U00000Azeq7UAB&nMonthsToShow=12