The Making Ends Meet poverty simulation is an interactive experience designed to offer a glimpse into the challenges faced by those who live in poverty in Vancouver Lower Mainland, BC.
It is a learning experience, not a game.
Participants take on the role of low-income family members and attempt to navigate the system to make ends meet for four simulated “weeks” of poverty, with each week taking approximately 15 minutes.
The objective is to educate and sensitize participants to the everyday realities faced by low-income families.
Making Ends Meet is based on the Community Action Poverty Simulation originally developed by the Missouri Association for Community Action (MACA) and is now utilized by a variety of social service agencies and advocacy groups across North America. With assistance from the United Way of Winnipeg, Simon Fraser University’s Intergroup Relations and Social Justice (IRSJ) Lab adapted the simulation to reflect the experiences of low-income families living in Vancouver Lower Mainland, BC, Canada.
Making Ends Meet 