Dozens of Jefferson City employees immersed themselves Wednesday in simulations of the poverty Missourians experience every day.
The Rethink Poverty program, provided by Central Missouri Community Action, is intended to promote poverty awareness, increase understanding and inspire local change, said Angela Hirsch, the nonprofit organization's community services director.
"(Participants) simulate one month of living on a low income," Hirsch said. "We have 26 family scenarios based on Missouri families."
Scenarios include families with children or elderly parents. Some are based on individuals' experiences.
"The person is expected to meet basic needs, like food, shelter, clothing and education," Hirsch said. "They must do that through resources that are available to them."
Living in "Realville," the residents must find ways to pay mortgages or rent, provide their families with clothing and medicine, and meet transportation needs.
In Realville, there is even an employer who simulates offering employment opportunities.
Once the simulation ends, participants turn in evaluation cards of the event, Hirsch said. The evaluations provide some insight into how challenging it can be for someone to learn what resources were available to them and how to access them.
Alongside city employees were staff from the Missouri Department of Social Services, including Program Manager Heather Howell.
"I played the role of a 16-year-old," Howell said. "It was good insight - for us to see programs our agencies are administering."
Kim Dowd served as a 13-year-old whose mother was absent and whose father just went to jail. Dowd became the family's caregiver.
"All of us tried to work as a team. We were struggling," Dowd said. "I was late for school. I was hiding a baby. I didn't realize that I had to leave school early to get my brother picked up."
Finding transportation was an eye-opener, Howell said.
That situation is eased a little locally because Jefferson City has a fairly extensive public bus system, Jessica Reed said.
Reed was among a number of volunteers brought in to fill in details about challenges for people living in poverty.
"We just give other people perspective on how we are living," she said. "A lot of people don't have resources. A lot didn't apply for social services because they didn't have a clue - there are a lot of people who don't know what's available to them."
And they can be uncertain or insecure about asking for help.
"I didn't even have a phone," Reed said. "It was hard. I used to be afraid to ask for help."