LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) — The government shutdown has left hundreds of local federal workers furloughed or uncertain when their next paycheck will come.
According to the Office of Personnel Management, there are 23,598 federal workers in Indiana. State Senator Ron Alting's office confirmed 500 of them live in Tippecanoe County.
Lafayette Family YMCA wants to be a resource during this time of uncertainty. From now until Mar. 31, the YMCA is offering free memberships for federal workers affected by the shutdown.
As we enter week four with no federal government operations, the ramifications are hitting people right here in the community.
YMCA CEO Paul Cramer said uncertainty with income can be a detriment to health and family life.
The new YMCA offers services for health, childcare, education and income. Cramer wants those federal workers to take advantage of their services.
“We have both hospitals Franciscan Health hospital and IU Health, we have junior achievement and also Ivy Tech Community College with the YMCA so we're all working together to help people reduce barriers, of health education and income,” said Cramer.
Cramer said they want to offer help with health and wellness, which often loses priority when financial uncertainty occurs.
Affected federal workers can bring government identification cards to either of the two YMCA locations. Cramer said they will reassess the free membership deadline as the government shutdown continues.
