The Cost of Poverty Experience (C.O.P.E.)

719 Ellsworth Drive,Silver Spring MD 20910

20 October, 2021

Description

What is the Cost of Poverty in Our Community? Over 40 Million Americans are affected by poverty, including 1 in every 5 children. The Cost of Poverty Experience (C.O.P.E.) provides an experience for individuals and organizations to better understand poverty, learn from people making the journey out of poverty, and become change leaders in their communities and organizations. Many organizations and communities across the nation use COPE to work more effectively with low-income families. COPE gives participants and volunteers an opportunity to experience poverty firsthand through the eyes of real families. The experiential nature of this training helps organizations and communities more deeply understand the complexities of poverty, paving the way for addressing the issues of poverty more comprehensively. As we work to recover from the devastating effects of COVID-19, COPE is as essential tool that organizations and decision makers will need to develop programs and procedures that are helpful, not harmful, to aid our most economically vulnerable citizens. COPE is a tool that: Deepens the understanding of the realities of poverty in America.Helps improve practices and approaches to better engage low income individuals and their families.Guides partnerships with the broader community to improve outcomes for low-income families.