Wake-Up Call: Poverty Simuation in Charlottesville

Rick Moore has assembled a group to discuss how poverty affects the Charlottesville area. Alicia Lenahan, President of Piedmont CASA, the Court Appointed Special Advocates work for children whose parents are unable or unwilling to keep their children safe. Ridge Schuyler, director of Charlottesvile Works Initiative, helping local residents find decent work. Although minimum wage is $14K a year, for a Mother with two children to work and commute in Charlottesville, she would need to make about $34K a year. Along with Susan Goins-Eplee, MSN, RN, Bilingual Community Health Nurse for Jefferson Area CHiP, working with parents to make healthy homes, to help interpret, not only the language barrier, but also to interpret and navigate the healthcare system.

On Saturday, February 21 these groups, headed by Piedmont CASA will put on the Community Action Poverty Simulation (CAPS). The goal for the 80 participants is to keep a roof over their head and get their bills paid with a kit to role-play the life of a low-income family. More details on the CAPS simulation here.

More information about Piedmont CASA at pcasa.org, information about Charlottesville Works Initiative at cacfonline.org, and information about Jefferson area CHiP at jachip.org.

Poverty Simulation with Alicia Lenahan