WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — It's day 23 of the government shutdown which means it’s a tense time for those not seeing a paycheck.
Clergy Charles Swadley, is a former member of the VA Interfaith Center for Public Policy and he said right now is when people have to be patient about getting paychecks.
"This is a tough time for federal employees. Some of these people have worn out their welcome with their relatives. They've gone that route. Their credit is bad, so there's very few places to turn to,” said Swadley.
Swadley said he spent years working with families impacted by predatory loans, and he says it’s not a solution.
"The industry that is known as predatory lending industry offers loans at high interest of rates plus fees and things like that become attractive,” said Swadley.
Swadley says the interest rates are never worth that upfront cash.
"They stretch it out- you pay a little bit, you get the fees, and that adds up a lot for a person who doesn't have a lot to start with,” said Swadley.
Swadley says that these lenders want people who won't be able to pay the loans back. Instead of taking the loan, Swadley says now is the time federal workers should look to the community to help.
"There are other options, I mean credit unions work with people, check with churches and nonprofits, but don't rush down there to get an easy few dollars from a payday lender because that's not an easy few dollars, that's a lot of money over a longer period of time,” said Swadley.