As the federal government shutdown drags on, more workers in Connecticut are concerned about how they’re going to make ends meet.
“We don’t care if there’s a wall or not a wall at this point. Now it’s just hey can you pay us or figure this out on somebody else’s time and not ours,” said Shaun Boylan of Danbury.
Boylan is a federal prison employee and patience for the government shutdown is wearing thin.
“Everybody’s worried about what are they going to do?” Boylan said. “I’ve seen some of the people I work with literally selling their couches.”
Boylan joined thousands of other essential workers nationwide who weren’t paid last week. His missing paycheck is now creating a strain – he has five kids, including one in college. Bills are still due and his creditors want payment.
“Student loans, they’re not pushing those back for us. Car payments, both of my lenders aren’t pushing us back. They’re not pushing those back. It’s like your bill is your bill,” Boylan said.
With each day Washington lawmakers fail to reach a deal, concern grows about how he’ll provide for his family.
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“What’s going to happen is that in the evenings when I’m not working, I’m going to have to find another job,” he said.
Boylan’s wife’s salary won’t cover all the family expenses, and they’ve had to tell their kids because of the shutdown, some things will have to wait.
“My birthday’s coming up. They might not have money by the time that comes up. They’re just going to have to postpone it until they can,” his son Adam explained.
On Tuesday Gov. Ned Lamont announced relief was coming for some federal workers in the form of no-interest loans, being offered through a partnership with the state and Webster Bank. Boylan said while he’s grateful for the opportunity to apply, it’s still unclear how soon he and other essential workers could get that cash in hand.
Boylan said he’ll keep going to work every day because it’s what right. But he worries for himself and for people like him who might not be able to keep clocking in for free.
“ If these people stop coming to work, this is a prison. It might be a low security, but there are some dangerous individuals back there. If these people can’t come to work because they can’t afford to get here, what happens?”
