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Newport News Police study the struggle of families living in poverty

Posted at 11:22 AM, Mar 25, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-25 11:22:58-04

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. – The Newport News Police Department took part in a poverty simulation Monday afternoon.

The event was hosted by the city’s Department of Human Services.

We’re told the goal of the event is to raise awareness and call attention to the reality of living in poverty.

According to the city’s 2015 statistical profile, which was released in February 2018, “Newport News has the 4th highest poverty rate for families and is tied for 4th highest poverty rate for children in the HRPDC (Hampton Roads Planning District Commission).”

The commission consist of 16 cities and counties: Gloucester County, Isle of Wight County, James City County, Southampton County, Surry County, York County; and the cities of: Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg.

The report also pointed out that Downtown/Huntington had the highest number of families in poverty.

News 3 previously reported that about 60 percent of students in the city rely on free or reduced lunches.

The simulation is designed to assist participants in the understanding of what it would be like to live the life of a typical low-income family trying to survive each month.

Related: Norfolk Public Schools studying mixed-income preschool classrooms