Posted by Jenna S

Program Host	Chapter
Host Region and Chapter	Eastern Etta Spier BBG
Program Type	Social Action
Time Required	Less then 2 hours
Target Population(s)	Girls (BBG)
Folds Targeted	Community Service/Social Activism Education Community Service Social Action
People Participating	10-30

Program Summary:

This is a very creative, educational, unique, interactive program on the causes of homelessness intended to promote social action and community service.

Full Description:

Who: Any group of 12 or more people

What: An educational and interactive program on the causes of homelessness

Where: You need a place to sit in a circle, and a large, outdoor space for the last part of the program, a street or backyard works great

When: Before it gets dark

Why: To show people the many sides of homelessness and to promote social action and community service

Supplies needed: pens, a few calculators, notecards

Basic instructions:

1. pass out personality cards
   
2. pay for 4 mandatory things
   
3. pick transportation and 1-6 others
   
4. leaders will read fate cards and give you the cards
   
5. keep track of $ on the back of the card!
   

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Each person receives a different profile (on a notecard, see "notecard template" document) with a starting amount of money.  Each person will need to purchase objects before the game (see "prices" document).  The leader will go around the circle and ask each person to read their profile.  The leader will then mix up the obstacle cards (but remember to keep them in order- for example Broadway actress #1 should stay before #2, but there can be other character's cards in between) and read them aloud.  Each person (or group if you have more than 12) will keep track of their amount of money on the back of the notecard.

Then go outside and put everyone in their respective place.  End with a discussion!

1. go outside and have everyone stand in a line, put in places based on the amount of money they have left (for example: if you have a negative amount of money, the person in more debt would take more steps back than the other person)- the person with the most money should figure out to take about 15 steps forward, person in most debt about 15 steps back- all relative in between (up to your discretion, but not necessarily in increments of 1- for example the movie star could be 15 steps forward, whereas the next person is 10 steps forward- will illustrate the huge and realistic social and economic class gaps in society)

2. DISCUSSION

• homeless not necessarily had the least amount of money
  
• sometimes people become homeless by physically losing their homes
  

-see "facts and quotes supplement" document
-etc.

Submitter's Suggestions:

This is a pretty complicated program...please contact me (Jenna Schleien) if you have ANY questions!
my email address:
jschleien@greensboroday.org

I also partnered this program with Greensboro's Walk for Shelter.  I would also suggest doing a follow-up community service program with a food bank or shelter.

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