Guest Author: Ernie Smith, Associations Now
Associations around the spectrum are encouraging their members to offer aid to furloughed federal employees—as are some event venues.
The partial federal shutdown—now a full month in—may be providing furloughed employees a lot of heartache, but associations are doing their part to offer a reprieve to these workers, who often play a central role in the way they operate.
It’s part of a broader effort that has also seen private businesses offering services to federal workers who are struggling to make ends meet while their paycheck remains in limbo. Among the ways that associations, facilities, and others are helping out:
National Rental Home Council. This trade group, which represents large-scale owners of single-family rental homes, has convinced many of its members to defer rent payments and waive late fees for federal employees. “Going without a paycheck for nearly a month can be an incredibly stressful experience for American working families,” NRHC President Kevin Baldridge said in a news release.
“We are deeply committed to helping all of our residents impacted by the government shutdown.”
National Conference Center. The meeting facility, located in Virginia’s Loudoun County, is offering free meals to the furloughed federal employees who might be affected by the shutdown—something it started January 15 and expects to continue as long as the shutdown keeps going. In a statement to the Loudoun Times, the facility’s vice president and general manager, Geoff Lawson, emphasized that it was payback of sorts for the support federal employees have offered the facility over the years. “The National Conference Center is honored to count federal agencies and organizations among our top clients for the past 40 years, and we feel moved to help our community during this time,” Lawson said.
