3456 Havana Avenue
FAMILY BACKGROUND
Ethnicity - Cuban Religion - Roman Catholic
Your family arrived in the U.S. over 1 year ago under Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) Status.
You rent a three-bedroom house that is in need of some major repairs that if your landlord repaired would reduce your utility bills. You have a reliable 5-year old car that is paid for. The three-year old son, Pedro, is enrolled in full-time daycare that has been paid for the month already. The father, Paulo, is in jail for 2 weeks for stealing food from a local grocery store to feed his family. There is no contact with the mother and she does not pay child support.
During the third week of the simulation the Realville Public School will be closed for holiday.
INCOME
Father worked 40 hours/week making $10.75/hour, for $1,720/month ($1,517 after taxes). He lost his job when he was arrested. There is $100.00 left from last month. Pablo receives a monthly stipend of $200.00 for financial aid from the community college.
BILLS
These are the bills you must pay during each month.
Housing (Pay to mortgage & realty co.) Monthly Rent: $620.00
Utilities (Pay to utility company) Gas: $160.00 Electric: $50.00 Phone: $25.00
Food (Pay to super center) Per week:$110.00
Clothing (Pay to super center) Per month: $60.00
Miscellaneous (Pay to super center) Per month: $40.00
FAMILY MEMBERS
FATHER: Paulo, age 36, recently divorced and has custody of the four children. He was incarcerated at the end of last month and cannot make bail. He will have to serve 45 days and will not be in the household this month. There is no contact with his ex-wife, and she has failed to pay child support. START IN JAIL – YOU WILL BE RELEASED AT THE END OF WEEK 2. YOU ARE UNEMPLOYED.
SON: Pablo, age 21, in community college. Has the responsibility of keeping the family together while his father is incarcerated. Goes to the school to represent college hours. YOU ARE UNEMPLOYED.
DAUGHTERS: Patricia and Penelope, age 13, are twins in junior high school. They are concerned with keeping their family together and since they are too young to work are creative in how they may earn money. GO TO SCHOOL.
SON: Pedro, age 3, in full time childcare. He is doing well. His tuition has already been paid for the month. GO TO SCHOOL.