The Texarkana Homeless Coalition plans to host a simulation for citizens to experience what it’s like to live in poverty.
The event will be held at the Texarkana Recreation Center. On May 11th from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. community member can be educated on the difficulties of poverty. There will be a number of simulations to showcase different lifestyles and hurdles. The press release states that these scenarios include:
- A single parent with limited resources and no transportation must find a way to get to work and get their child to daycare and/or school.
- An elderly person must find a way to pay for both utilities and medication.
- A young adult must care for siblings while their parents are incarcerated.
- An elderly couple must raise their grandchildren and deal with their own health and employment issues.
According to the 2021 census, nearly 20% of Texarkana’s citizens experience poverty. The poverty simulator is a unique and interactive experience designed to provide participants with an understanding of what it’s like to live in poverty. The event is open to the public and aims to educate the community on the realities of poverty and homelessness.
The Texarkana Homeless Coalition is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending homelessness in the community. The organization provides a range of services to those experiencing homelessness, including emergency shelter, transitional housing, and job training programs. The Texarkana Homeless Coalition is looking forward to hosting the poverty simulator and hopes that it will be a valuable learning experience for all participants. Communities Unlimited Community Facilitator Deanna O’Malley says in the press release, “We want to connect those facing poverty with solutions that are sustainable and that goal starts with educating individuals with the resources to help them face these challenges.”
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