Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS)
What is CAPS?
The Community Action Poverty Simulation, developed by Missouri Community Action Network, is a unique tool used by over 2,000 organizations worldwide to promote poverty awareness, increase understanding, inspire local change and to transform perspectives about poverty in our communities.
CAPS is an interactive immersion experience. It sensitizes community participants to the realities of poverty.
CAPS is not a game. It is based on real Community Action clients and their lives to bridge that gap from misconception to understanding.
How does a poverty simulation look?
Why host a poverty simulation?
- Participants will role-play members of up to 26 families, all facing a variety of challenging, but typical, circumstances.
- Participants will experience living one month in poverty during four 15-minute “weeks”.
- Like real life, you need transportation to work or school. You need food on the table. You might struggle with a chronic illness. Throughout the month you will face the daily stresses and challenges a person in poverty faces.
- The activity will last between 2-3 hours. This time frame includes:
- An introduction and briefing by the facilitator
- The simulation exercise. Four 15-minute “weeks”
- A guided debriefing in which participants and volunteers share their observations and insights from the activity.
- Promote Poverty Awareness
- During the simulation, participants will role-play a month in poverty and experience daily life in low-income families.
- Increase Understanding
- After the simulation, participants will unpack their learning and brainstorm community change.
- Inspire Local Change
- Together, we can be a voice to end poverty in your family, friends and communities.
- 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 structural, a failure of society.
Requirements to host a simulation
- Cover facilitators’ costs (mileage, hotel, meals)
- Recruit at least 30 participants (80 max)
- Recruit at least 24 volunteers for the simulation
- Secure space (approx. 2500-3000 sq ft)
- Arrange for customized room set-up (map will be provided)
- Provide volunteers with a modest stipend for their work
Northwest Community Action is recognized by the Missouri Community Action Network, the creators of CAPS, with four certified facilitators ready to help you host a poverty simulation.
Some examples of groups who have used the Community Action Poverty Simulation experience include:
- Customer Service Groups
- Health Care Professionals
- Educators
- Clergy and Congregations
- Social Service Providers
- Elected Officials
- Management Staff
- College Students
- Community Organizations
- Corporations
If you are interested in hosting a poverty simulation, please contact one of our facilitators via email today!