How does this experience help me gain an understanding of poverty?

Answer:
The experience places you in real-life situations families in poverty face every day — choosing between rent and childcare, or getting to work without reliable transportation.
By feeling the pressure of those choices firsthand and reflecting afterward, you move from abstract knowledge to real empathy and insight.

How does poverty affect you individually?

Answer: Even if you’ve never faced poverty personally, it still shapes your world — from the schools your children attend to the economy that supports your job. It influences how we view others, make decisions, and define success. Recognizing these connections helps you see your role in creating a more understanding and equitable community.

How does poverty affect your community?

Answer: Poverty impacts every part of community life — schools, healthcare, businesses, and public safety.

When families struggle to meet basic needs, the ripple effects touch everyone.

Understanding this helps communities move from sympathy to shared action — building stronger, more connected neighborhoods.

How will this experience transform the way you see and respond to poverty?

Answer: This experience moves poverty from something you’ve heard about to something you can feel and understand.
It challenges assumptions, reveals unseen barriers, and helps you recognize how everyday systems and choices affect people in crisis.
You’ll leave with greater empathy, clearer awareness, and a renewed commitment to respond with understanding rather than judgment.