Reflections of a participant in the “Living on the Edge” program with United Way

by Christina MacNeil,
Member of the #DalUnited Way Steering Committee
Director of Finance, Dean’s Office, Faculty of Medicine

On Thursday, October 20, I participated in the Living on the Edge program with the United Way.

Upon entering the Maritime Hall in the Halifax Forum, we were instructed to select a name badge from the array of badges turned faced-down, ensuring a completely random assigning of identities. We were told that this was not a game but a simulation in which we were asked to “lean into the role.” The simulation is structured such that 15 minutes represents one week; of that weekends are three of those minutes. Families were given envelopes that contained a few bus passes, some cash, a SIN card and a list of specific tasks: pay utilities bill, buy groceries and other essential needs, go to work or school, and find daycare. Real-life challenges.

My new self could not be more diverse from me: male (I’m female), 25 years old (let’s just say I’m closer to retirement age than age of majority), two children (I don’t have any), living in a shelter (I live in a two-storey, three-bedroom house), probationary minimum wage job (I have a permanent, well-paying job with benefits).

It took no more than 3 minutes into the simulation before the stress levels rose.

Hannah, my nineteen-year-old girlfriend and I were to find secure housing within two weeks; it took four weeks. I received a warning card for poor nutrition when I didn’t buy food for two weeks. And luckily my boss didn’t fire me when I was late for work by two days because the line-up at the Quick Pay Office was too long. Hannah couldn’t attend school because she had no daycare for her infant child. And there were many other stressors before the month was over.

This is what Living on the Edge looks like. In Halifax. In Truro. In Saint John. Food insecurity, lack of affordable housing, and increasing health issues—all relating to poverty. United Way is working to change 50,000 lives in 5 years. Your donation through the Dalhousie United Way campaign will help the organization reach that goal. Together we can do this!