Local governments helping federal workers avoid falling behind on rent, mortgages

As the federal government shutdown continues, many workers across the D.C. region are growing increasingly anxious about how they’ll cover their most basic expenses, including rent and mortgage payments.
“It’s stressful,” said Everett Kelley, National President of the American Federation of Government Employees. “They’re wondering, how am I going to make ends meet? How am I going to pay my bills?”
For thousands of furloughed employees, those questions are becoming more urgent by the day.
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At a rally on Wednesday, Monica Gorman, who is on furlough from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, said federal employees are working to help each other through the shutdown.
“Federal employees have been organizing a lot of mutual aid,” Gorman said. “A lot of federally focused credit unions are offering zero-interest loans. So, we have resources to weather this.”
The growing uncertainty recalls the nation’s longest government shutdown, the record 35-day closure in 2018-2019.
A survey conducted by Prudential found that 27% of the federal employees they spoke with missed a mortgage or rent payment. They reported that 49% fell behind on bills, and 42% took on additional debt.
Local Support Efforts
Communities throughout the region are once again stepping up to support affected workers.
On Wednesday, Prince George’s County Councilmember Wanika Fisher hosted an online seminar to help federal workers manage their finances and connect with local resources.
One of the speakers said he encouraged residents to “adopt a crisis mindset.” Fisher said the economic impact is widespread in her district.
“Our county and our district have been greatly affected,” she said. “We have so many District 2 residents who are federal employees.”
Prince George’s County is among several local governments offering guidance and financial counseling to help workers avoid eviction and other financial hardships.
Gorman said that while many workers are finding temporary relief, there’s a growing recognition of what’s at stake if the shutdown continues.
“What I’ve been seeing, talking to other federal workers, is a growing awareness that this is a big fight,” she said. “The stakes here are really high.”