Reporting from the Front Lines of the Federal Government Shutdown
Charitable nonprofits witnessed first-hand – and many experienced – the significant problems flowing from the 35-day federal government shutdown that ended January 26. In addition to addressing the immediate needs of those individuals directly impacted by the layoffs, nonprofit leaders spread the word about what was actually happening in their communities. This edition of Advocacy in Action is dedicated to the efforts of many to get the word out, and thus advocate rather than suffer silently.
State associations of nonprofits stayed in touch with their members throughout the shutdown, gathering and sharing information and resources, and spreading the news of their experiences. CalNonprofits was quick to survey its members and the results were concerning. “The unexpected -- and troubling -- message is that the shutdown is affecting nonprofits and communities in surprisingly large ways.” The state association found, “From food banks and housing groups to education and arts organizations, people are reporting hardships across the state.” They reported that some nonprofits couldn’t access grant funds or finalize grant applications due the absence of federal employees, and others struggled to cope with housing needs, tax preparation assistance, and many other problems.
The Florida Nonprofit Alliance spread word about the effects on domestic violence shelters, food aid, food inspections, and housing assistance. A survey by the Utah Nonprofits Association showed that nonprofits and their constituents experienced a wide range of hardships. “The uncertainty and being in limbo is hard,” replied one survey respondent. Some respondents reported that they had seen delays in work and new projects due to lack of funding; some were concerned about receiving benefits, and others were concerned about their clients’ ability to pay for things like daily medications.
The Massachusetts Nonprofit Network survey found disruptions in current funding streams, including delays in current grant programs, uncertainty around entitlement funding, little to no federal technical assistance on grant and program administration, and lapses in federal approvals needed to carry out local projects and activities, among many other things. Providers’ Council in Massachusetts wrote their congressional delegation to report on the many negative impacts of the shutdown on human services providers, and shared one poignant quote from a front-line nonprofit professional that resonates with many:
“All it takes is one missed payment, voucher or rental subsidy to put them at extreme risk. It is imperative that those who are the most frail and vulnerable are not held hostage to a system that is meant to be a safety net for them. This is a most cruel and unusual way for force policy change.”
In a survey of nonprofits by the Maine Association of Nonprofits, two-thirds (66%) of respondents reported that they had experienced either a moderate or high level of impact from the shutdown. One respondent wrote: “We have seen moderate increase in the numbers of people seeking food and diapers through our pantry; many of them are furloughed or working without pay.” Another nonprofit reported: “The middle-school-aged girls we work with bring a lot of their family stressors to the program with them and we anticipate needing to guide them through processing this situation,” demonstrating that the pain of shutdown goes far beyond the economic.
Among the many nonprofits responding to request for stories by the Center for Non-Profits in New Jersey, one food pantry executive expressed the spirit of the community that nonprofits naturally embrace. Reporting that the organization had received its first direct request for assistance from a furloughed federal employee, the survey responder wrote, “She is struggling to pay her rent and bills. Of course, we will be providing her food right away and seeing if there are other ways to help navigate this situation.” In a news release this month, the Center joined with other advocates in calling for a swift end to the shutdown. “Lives and livelihoods are on the line,” noted Linda Czipo, President and CEO of the Center. “We urge the President and Congress to act immediately to reopen the federal government so that vital programs can be resumed and resolutions to long-term issues can be negotiated.”
There were also many commendable examples of nonprofits, local governments, and businesses cooperating to help stave off some of the damage of the federal government shutdown. The City of Alexandria, VA alerted all citizens to a food drive benefiting the Capital Area Food Bank that was providing food boxes to furloughed federal employees. The effort enjoyed the support of a local TV station and FedEx, which provided trucks to collect and deliver food. In Cincinnati, a two-day pop-up restaurant was run by the nonprofit La Soupe on the campus of the Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State College. Roughly 200 volunteers have been welcoming people, packaging food, and serving roughly 3,000 meals prepared by local chefs who have also volunteered their time. In Detroit, the nonprofit Forgotten Harvest created a pop-up pantry at the local airport to provide shelf-stable foods and fresh fruit to federal employees affected by the government shutdown. The effort was successful because of the full engagement and support of Wayne County Airport Authority and Delta Airlines.
Each of the stories listed here and many others deserve respect for the telling of their experiences so that policymakers can learn. If they will listen.
