Guest Commentary: Simulation brings home what it’s like to live in poverty

Big homelessness around job centers, such as Rehoboth Beach, could be due to the lack of an affordable and robust public transportation system, without which people could not move far from jobsites to less expensive areas. A New Castle County resident mentioned the same problem where he lives.”

Eul Lee is a member of Sussex2030, a grassroots group working for the smart and responsible growth of Sussex County. She lives in Lewes.

My gratitude goes to many kindhearted policymakers, nonprofits and volunteers working tirelessly to ease the housing crisis. A chance came to me to see poverty up close in a semi-personal way, and I’d like to share the perspective I gained.

In May and June, the United Way of Delaware, with the support of the Sussex Housing Group and the First State Community Action Agency, hosted poverty simulation events in Sussex County.

The May event, held at Delaware Technical Community College’s Georgetown campus, was my first participation in the simulation, where a few dozen volunteers were assigned a role to play with certain financial restraints for a span of four weeks. The participants then shared the challenges they encountered during the simulation that many Delawareans experience in real life on a daily basis.

I came away with the conviction that the lack of public transportation plays a key role in homelessness and unaffordable housing, which I shared with some legislators, Department of Transportation planners and others.

Why?

Without a reliable car, which is becoming costly, people cannot get to work, social services, grocery stores, banks and even pawn shops. With limited time to deal with all those in the middle of financial distress, arranging transportation via caring neighbors/community members is unreliable and time consuming. Taxi services like Uber can be very expensive.

Playing a 25-year-old male living with a girlfriend and her 1-year-old baby, I started out fine, calculating how much is needed per month or week. But my income was far too short to cover the expenses, and I needed to pawn something to get extra cash. Time was running out to pay the rent, and I had no means of transportation to a pawn shop. My brain stopped functioning to the point of numbness. I didn’t know what to do first and how. In the simulation, I missed work and lost my meager income, and ended up being evicted.

Big homelessness around job centers, such as Rehoboth Beach, could be due to the lack of an affordable and robust public transportation system, without which people could not move far from jobsites to less expensive areas. A New Castle County resident mentioned the same problem where he lives. The question is how/where to find funding to supplement the farebox that does not cover the operating cost.

In June, I joined another simulation held at the M&T Bank in Millsboro. Playing a health care provider this time, I observed that health care is a luxury when people are under pressure to secure food and shelter for the day.

Here is my opinion on what needs to be added to the affordable housing strategy:

1. A public transportation system — free or cheap for Delaware residents.

• “Microtransit” systems, such as DART Connect between Millsboro and Georgetown, should be expanded if there is insufficient ridership for regularly scheduled buses.
• Are there any funds available for public transportation under the housing security umbrella in American Rescue Plan Act or Inflation Reduction Act funds?

2. Contiguous bike/pedestrian paths.

• People who cannot afford a car should be able to bike several miles to work without risking their lives.

3. Scheduled/preannounced mobile services for medical care, counseling and social services.

• Large jobsites on weekdays.
• Communities (apartment building parking areas, grocery store parking lots, fire stations, etc.) on weekends.

4. Large employers should have ongoing communication/reminders of their resources.

• They should also provide help for employees, such as a bulletin board for carpooling, flexible schedules or prearranged transportation services.

5. Employee housing.

• If the majority of employees of a large employer are not paid enough to afford adequate housing near the jobsite, they should consider a provision for employee housing.

I do not see the housing crisis in Delaware exploding like in many metro areas. Nevertheless, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and we must strengthen our weak links.

Eul Lee is a member of Sussex2030, a grassroots group working for the smart and responsible growth of Sussex County. She lives in Lewes.