TROY Ala. (TROJANVISION) — Troy University’s Office of Civic Engagement hosted a Poverty Simulation to help students understand the reality many of their classmates and neighbors face.

“[Students] take on a role of a family member and they go through four simulated weeks with their specific situation that provided by the simulation kit,” said Coordinator of Civic Engagement, Lauren Cochran. “They get to have a simulated experience of living a life as a member of a community with a low income.”

One student told TrojanVision that he has a better understanding of how inflation affects the poverty rate.

“Better grasp of what some might be experiencing in life at this time of inflation and with the economy not being so great,” student Graydon Albritton said.

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The simulation is designed for students to understand how having a limited income contributes to poverty.

“[It’s] a good experience of what it would be like to try and navigate different systems in a community, different challenges, all based on a set of circumstances where their income is not enough to make ends meet,” Cochran explained.

Allison Moore attended the simulation. She said she feels that people from different backgrounds are not being treated fairly.

“It’s kind of a system that is set up for them to fail and even places that are meant to help can sometimes do harm,” Moore said.

The Poverty Simulation is part of the Missouri Community Action Network and is annual event.