Crisis Assistance holds poverty simulations

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The number of poor people in America is expected to soar to levels we haven't seen in more than 50 years.

Experts say poverty is hitting everyone from the unemployed to suburban families.

Many of those families turn to Crisis Assistance Ministry for help.

The agency is holding poverty simulations to give others a firsthand experience of the challenges needy families in the Charlotte area face every day.

"Sadly, life is much more difficult -- the everyday choices we have to make are much more difficult for families living in poverty,” said Michelle Hamilton with Crisis Assistance.

As a part of the poverty simulation, each person is assigned a role and they simulate a month of decisions that needy families have to make.

Ed McMahan, who also volunteers with Crisis Assistance, was given the role of a 17 year-old who lived with his sister and single mom.

Eyewitness News followed McMahan as he went through the simulation and tried to buy food for his family.  He was told the suggested amount to spend on groceries for a family of three is $100 a week.  But because of his family's limited finances, McMahan could only afford to spend $20.

Eyewitness News spoke to McMahan about the experience.

"Until you go through something like this, you don't understand the day-to-day and hour-to-hour challenges these people face,” he said.

Experts said one in six people in the U.S. were poor last year and they predict poverty will remain above pre-recession levels for many more years, which Hamilton said makes the poverty simulations even more critical.

"It's more and more important to us to make sure that everyday citizens and people who make decisions in our community are aware of poverty, particularly in light of these numbers we’ve seen today,” Hamilton said.

Crisis Assistance Ministry said many people who go through the simulation donate or volunteer with local agencies that help those in need.

The agency also said a local hospital system that went through the simulation changed its shift times to better accommodate employees who rely on public transportation.

Schools, businesses, churches and any other groups can request poverty simulations by contacting Crisis Assistance Ministry.

WSOC