An Exercise in Understanding
October 24, 2025 – Workforce partners across North Central Washington participated in a Poverty Simulation hosted at Big Bend Community College — an interactive exercise offering a glimpse into the daily challenges and tough decisions faced by families living in poverty.
What Happens in a Poverty Simulation?
Each “week” in the simulation lasted just 15 minutes, compressing the urgency of real-life survival into short bursts of decision-making. Each attendee took on a role: a single parent facing eviction from a shelter, a 13 year old navigating life and school on their own, and a grandparent trying to provide for her grandchildren with limited resources. Each person had to navigate real-world challenges like paying bills, visiting agencies for support, and securing food or transportation.
The Simulation Revealed Real Frustrations.
“Even when I tried to speak up at school, it felt like no one was listening… like I didn’t exist,” one attendee shared. They assumed the role of a 13-year old whose parents were out of the picture and was being cared for by an older sibling. They shared that during the school simulation, no one seemed to notice, care, or respond. And at home, the situation just got worse, and the person playing the 13 year old felt helpless. They shared after the experience, “It’s way too easy for families, especially children, to fall through the cracks. Even when they’re trying to do the right things, like go to school or stay out of trouble, there are so many barriers that keep them stuck. It made me think about how important it is in our work to look deeper, to listen, and to not assume everything is okay just because someone doesn’t ask for help. Sometimes asking for help is the hardest thing to do.”
The Pressure To Survive Came Through Every Story.
One participant took on the role of a 21-year-old single mother, juggling a baby, eviction notices, and a system that never seemed to have time for her. “Every place I went, they told me to come back next week,” she said. “But I didn’t have a next week. I had a one-year-old and two weeks before eviction. Every delay meant losing another chance to get back on my feet.” Bus passes ran out, appointments piled up, and hope slipped further away.
Across the room, others recognized the same exhaustion. A grandmother trying to care for her granddaughter said the experience left her feeling “a lot of stress, hopelessness, and fear.” In her family’s story, the child went hungry, resorted to stealing, and dropped out of school. “It felt like my life was out of my control,” she said, the words landing heavy.
Those brief, fifteen-minute “weeks” built pressure fast. Lines grew longer, paychecks disappeared, and every small setback — missed paperwork, broken transportation, theft — spiraled into something bigger. What began as a role-play exercise turned personal, surfacing frustration, empathy, and recognition in equal measure.
“I hated it,” one participant admitted. “It hit too close to home. But it reminded me why compassion matters — and why we have to keep showing up.”
The simulation illustrated poverty’s challenges by making them a felt lived experience. And for those who serve others every day, that difference matters. As one attendee put it, “Even when someone’s doing everything right, the system can make it feel impossible to move forward.”
In that shared awareness, understanding deepened, and with it, a renewed commitment to meet people with patience, creativity, and care.
Thank you to the organizers, to Big Bend Community College for hosting, and to everyone who came from all over the region to participate in this impactful workshop.
