How the Other Half Live is a British documentary series, broadcast on Channel 4. It features two families: one of which is rich, usually with parents from humble backgrounds; the other which is poor.
The programme normally focuses on a child from each family: the child from the poor family first sends a DVD to the rich family, showing them what life is like for them. The rich family will then normally send a few thousand pounds to the poor family, usually to pay off a debt or overdraft. The families then meet up, at each house. The rich family will usually commit to paying the poor family, for example to pay for the children's education, to pay rent on a new house or pay bills.
There have been two series, one broadcast in 2009 and the other in 2010. It is made by the same team who created The Secret Millionaire, which it has been compared to.