Partial government shutdown could affect Michiana nonprofit organizations

NOW: Partial government shutdown could affect Michiana nonprofit organizations
NEXT:

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The partial government shutdown could impact Michiana nonprofits who receive federal money.

The YWCA of North Central Indiana receives five grants from the Office on Violence Against Women which is within the Department of Justice. The YWCA says that makes up 18.5 percent of their budget.

The money helps the YWCA provide legal services, housing and utility services, and a crisis hotline to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

The YWCA says if the shutdown continues until January 18th, the YWCA won’t have access to those grant dollars which could put programs at risk.

YWCA president and CEO Susan Tybon says usually the government reimburses the grant money to the YWCA each month, but if the shutdown continues for another week, that practice will stop.

Tybon says if that happens, the YWCA will continue to provide those programs and services. She says the YWCA will have to be conservative with expenses and use money from other grants or money they normally put away like holiday donations.

Tybon says she doesn’t know how long they can operate without being paid back,

“We are going into this with the determination of saying, we’re going to make it through this,” said Tybon. “We’re going to be really thrifty and we’re going to make it through.”

However, if the shutdown lasts until February there could be a larger impact.

In December, Congress failed to renew the Violence Against Women Act. VAWA funds the grants the Office on Violence Against Women issues the YWCA of North Central Indiana.

Tybon says funding runs out on February 8th. Due to the shutdown, lawmakers can’t renew the act.

“The shutdown really needs to end,” said Tybon. “I think that it’s really, really important that we continue to receive the funding that is due to us and also I want legislators to work really really hard to reactivate the VAWA to make sure that everything that should be apart of that act is.”

If you would like to help the YWCA of North Central Indiana, click here

Share this article: