To understand poverty, they experienced it 15 minutes at a time

FOR TWO HOURS, they walked in another person’s shoes. But it didn’t take more than about 15 minutes for the stress to kick in.

A simulation of what it’s like for families hovering at the poverty level to cope with not having enough money for transportation, housing, food, child care, senior care, education and other essentials gave business, community and nonprofit leaders a lot to chew on — even if they never had enough time during the exercise to shop at the fictional grocery store.

“I think it was a feeling of desperation, just not knowing what to do first,” said Kathleen Sullivan of the Mary & John Elliot Charitable Foundation.

“Think of it this way: All the resources are in this room. Imagine how this is not simulated and you’re just out there on your own. How do you find these thi