Pocono Alliance, in conjunction with the Monroe County Grants Office, will be hosting a Monroe County Poverty Simulation from 8:30 a.m. until noon on Saturday, Nov. 12. The event will take place at Stroudsburg Wesleyan Church, 915 North Fifth Street in Stroudsburg.

The alliance is seeking people to participate in the simulation as either agency representatives or family members who are experiencing poverty.During the poverty simulation, participants from the community role play the lives of low-income families dealing with unemployment, disability, financial hardship, and other difficulties associated with life below the poverty line.These participants must try to provide food, clothing, shelter and other basic needs for themselves and their "families" during four 20-minute "weeks." Each family interacts with a mock community composed of various businesses and institutions run by volunteers who have experienced real-life poverty.Although everyone involved is playing a role with fictional scenarios and props, the Poverty Simulation is not a game. It is instead a recreation of life in poverty that gives participants a new perspective on low-income living, as well as giving them a chance to reflect on their experience and discuss what they can do to effect change within their community.The focus is sensitizing people outside of poverty to the needs and struggles of those within its grasp, with an emphasis on broadening awareness among policymakers and community leaders.Individuals, businesses, organizations, or community groups that would like to be equipped to effect change in their area by taking part in a Poverty Simulation, may contact Eloise at PVEN at (570) 992-3136 or email

pven@ptd.net to find out more.