Brunswick County conducted its first-ever 15-hour countywide simulation of inactivity and poverty.

SOUTHPORT, N.C. (WECT) – A nonprofit organization that provides services to more than 300 homeless individuals and families conducted its first poverty simulation in Southport.

The Sleep-out Brunswick 2024 fundraiser took place on Friday evening and was organized by Brunswick Housing Partnership.

This experience helps people empathize with those who find themselves in less fortunate situations. People slept in their cars, tents and even boxes from Friday evening until Saturday morning.

Participants took part in a poverty simulation where they received a new identity that emerged from difficult life situations. Participants then had to figure out how they were going to meet their families’ needs, earn money, and access community resources to achieve financial stability.

“It just gives you a different perspective. You’re all comfortable and you don’t really think about other people, but being in that makes you think about what people have to go through on a day-to-day basis and just makes you appreciate what you have more. says Nduwimana Maahero, a participant.

After the exercise, the group took stock of what it was like to take on the role of someone else.

“I think we’re approaching the situation with a certain mindset about how people got there or why they’re here,” says Sally Learned, executive director. “The poverty simulation we are doing tonight helps people understand what it takes for people to get out of poverty.”

Learned says poverty in rural counties is often overlooked.

“We often see Brunswick County as an affluent retirement community, and because it’s so rural and large, people just tend to disappear into the county. It’s not like an urban area where you see a cluster of homeless or low-income people,” Learned says.

Today’s experience will also help those in need because the money raised tonight will go back into needed resources. They raised over $40,000 thanks to the generosity of Brunswick County.

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