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Crisis Assistance Ministry

Crisis Assistance Ministry

Charlotte, NC

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Put Yourself in Someone Else’s Shoes

With two kids to care for, aged 7 and 9, there is a zero percent chance my family can pay these bills on time. Should I fall behind on rent payments and risk eviction? Should I ignore the electric bill and risk the power being cut off? How will I be able to afford groceries for the coming week? All of these questions spiraled through my mind as I came to a harrowing conclusion: my family and I could likely end up homeless very soon. Suddenly, I heard a whistle blow, and a hush fell over the room.  It was over.

February 16, 2023

BY NOAH HOWELL

I’m stressed and overwhelmed as I prepare to clock out of work for the week. Next month’s rent is due in only a couple of days, but I’m behind on my utility payments and still need to buy groceries for the coming week. The good news? It’s payday. The bad news? My $350 weekly paycheck isn’t nearly enough to cover all my expenses, even with my husband’s monthly disability check — our only other source of income.

With two kids to care for, aged 7 and 9, there is a zero percent chance my family can pay these bills on time. Should I fall behind on rent payments and risk eviction? Should I ignore the electric bill and risk the power being cut off? How will I be able to afford groceries for the coming week? All of these questions spiraled through my mind as I came to a harrowing conclusion: my family and I could likely end up homeless very soon.

Suddenly, I heard a whistle blow, and a hush fell over the room. 

It was over. 

For the past hour, I’d participated in the Missouri Community Action Network’s poverty simulation, facilitated by Crisis Assistance Ministry. The simulation takes you through a simulated month in the lives of people living in poverty, split up into four 15-minute segments, each segment representing one week. I took on the identity of Zola Zuppot, a fictional 53-year-old woman whose experiences and circumstances were drawn from the real-life experiences of someone experiencing poverty.

Zola, whose husband is disabled and confined to their home, became the legal guardian of her two grandchildren after her daughter was incarcerated. The children’s father was not in the picture; therefore, the brunt of this responsibility fell on Zola. Between Zola’s low-paying job and her husband’s monthly disability checks, the household of four had just over $2,000/month to live on, putting the family below the Federal Poverty Line ($30,000/year for a household of four). With not enough household income, it’s no surprise that I was unable to make ends meet and pay all my expenses; I ended the simulation with less than half of what I needed to pay rent for the next month. 

American political rhetoric surrounding issues of poverty is too often dominated by individualism and a failure to recognize systemic factors that drive cycles of poverty. Poverty is often seen as a personal failure rather than a systemic one. The poverty simulation aims to dispel this mindset by putting you directly in the shoes of someone trapped in said cycles of poverty. For one hour, you feel the stress, the urgency, and the hopelessness that accompanies the experience of poverty. 

Once you’ve felt that—once you’ve experienced having the odds stacked against you at every turn—it changes your perspective. That’s the power of the simulation: its ability to instill empathy among people who may not have experienced poverty themselves.

As you progress through the simulation, you very quickly realize a cruel paradox exists in the American economy: it is extremely expensive to be poor in the United States. You also realize it is incredibly difficult to climb out of poverty once you’re there. Take Zola, for example: she has no college degree, speaks English as her second language, and is nearing retirement age. She essentially has no opportunity for upward mobility in terms of income. Her husband cannot work, and now she has double the number of mouths to feed in her household. Through no fault of her own, the outlook for Zola and her family is bleak without a strong safety net in place.

Zola’s case isn’t some imaginary horror story. Each character’s story in the simulation is crafted directly from social workers’ casework. These scenarios represent the norms of poverty rather than the exceptions.

In fact, Zola represents one of 37.9 million Americans living below the Federal Poverty Line in 2021. That’s about 11.6% of the total U.S. population. By OECD standards, the U.S. poverty rate is at 15.1%, much higher than other comparable nations, including the U.K. (11.2%), Switzerland (9.9%), Canada (8.6%), France (8.4%), and Denmark (6.5%).  

When you look at the staggering numbers, it becomes difficult to ignore the role our socioeconomic systems play in creating poverty. And once you actually put yourself into the shoes of someone experiencing poverty, even for just an hour, it becomes impossible.

If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking of poverty as a personal failure, I encourage you to try this simulation. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes and see if you change your mind.

Learn More About Poverty Simulations

Noah Howell

Noah Howell is a UNC-Chapel Hill graduate who works with the Civic Engagement team at Crisis Assistance Ministry. A Charlotte native, he is deeply passionate about exploring potential solutions to homelessness and poverty in his community.

Filed Under: Advocacy Tagged With: Civic Engagement, Community, Federal Poverty Line, Missouri Action Network, Noah Howell, Poverty Simulation, Poverty Simulations, Preserve Dignity

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    Charlotte, NC 28206
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What a happy accident. @kwballantyne and @Southpark both signed up to spend #RedDay here and didn’t even know it! They had such a great time serving the community listening to great music and banding together to get the Free Store in tip-top shape. 
Keller Williams was so enthusiastic about helping community members overcome long-term financial instability for their families, they stayed an extra hour before their lunch and had another crew from Southpark serve at 1pm! 👏🏽

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You know how it is – life gets busy, but when something good comes along, you pay attention. Well, guess what? Myers Park United Methodist Church just jumped into our Challenge! 🙌 Their support, along with Christ Church, Covenant Presbyterian Church, First Presbyterian Church, and Myers Park Presbyterian Church is seriously boosting this thing we’re all making happen together.
 
Now, if you’ve been meaning to get involved but haven’t yet, or maybe you donated a while back? 🤔 Good news! This wave of generosity means your gifts will now be doubled through June 1st! Consider it a little nudge – a chance to double your dollars and make a real difference for folks right here in our community.

And hey, if you’re new to the party and looking for a way to actually see your money doing good? 🌱 This is it. Every donation until June 1st gets matched. Let’s not let this momentum fade – we hope to finish strong, like we always do. 💪 Head over to the usual place to make a direct donation.

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To the mothers who face the toughest battles and still rise to provide for their children: Your strength is our inspiration. ❤️ Meet Natasha, a mother of three who found support through Crisis Assistance Ministry and our Financial Empowerment program. Her journey of perseverance is a powerful reminder of a mother's unconditional love.

Happy Mother's Day to all the resilient mothers out there! Let's show them some love today. Double-tap if you agree! 👇

#HappyMothersDay #Resilience #MothersLove #FinancialEmpowerment #CrisisAssistanceMinistry #Inspiration #NeverGiveUp

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Just a little love going to Eastway Middle School! 🥰 Thanks to the community’s generous donations through our Partner Agency Shopping Service, we helped create 105 gift baskets for their amazing teachers’ appreciation event. Your donations provided the materials, directly showing the power of your giving in our community, especially for our educators.

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This is what it looks like when you leave it all on the field! 📢 What more can we say? @davidsonwildcat just showed what it means to play for something bigger than yourselves! They ran a full press on a month-long donation drive across their campus, and collected a truckload of items for neighbors who shop here, free of charge, for essentials. Shout-out to @c_kochera and the Davidson Student Athlete Advisory Committee. Let's take this energy and continue to champion our customers with the dignity they deserve! 💪 #CrisisAssisMin #DavidsonCollegeAthletics #GoCats #AthleticsDoneRight

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Imagine the excitement of finding your dream prom dress! 🥰 Thanks to an amazing collaboration between Crisis Assistance Ministry, #AtriumHealth, and other generous organizations, local teens received stunning prom dresses, jewelry, makeup, and even empowering workshops on safety and beauty! It was a day filled with excitement and confidence. Thank you to everyone who made these dreams a reality! #AtriumHealth #CharMeckSchools #CMS #PromSeason #SeniorProm #JuniorProm

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This week, we're showering our incredible educators with appreciation! 🎉 From classroom teachers to supportive parents, dedicated bus drivers, caring counselors, and everyone in between. Thank you for inspiring, guiding, and shaping the future. We "apple-solutely" value all you do! ❤️ #EducationAppreciation #ThankATeacher #TeacherAppreciationWeek

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Ever wonder about the name Conor? 🤔 Our amazing Benefits Access Volunteer, Conor (spelled the Irish way with one “N”!), shared his inspiring journey to Crisis Assistance Ministry and how he empowers our neighbors. But there’s extra magic when Conor invites you to join in a matching Challenge! Between now and May 15th, every donation is DOUBLED thanks to a 100% match! Imagine the impact! If you’re ready to make your generosity go twice as far? Click the link in bio or CC for details, and let’s rise to Conor’s challenge together! Time’s ticking – May 15th will be here before you know it! 😉 crisisassistance.org/donate/social/ (see stories to click directly)

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Happy International Dance Day!
Throwing it back (in more ways than one) to this holiday 2024 moment of joy featuring Crisis Assistance Ministry staff and community members who have overcome difficulties to create long-term financial stability for their families.

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