Employee says “I was simply showing humanity and respect” during shutdown crisis
When the federal government shutdown late last year, it brought immediate challenges for those dependent on regular paychecks to manage daily life. For residents on military installations, the sudden loss of a steady income had many concerned about the possibility of losing their homes.
Chris A, a defense contractor at Fort Meade in Maryland, was unexpectedly forced to navigate life without pay because of the months-long stoppage. He faced what he thought was the real possibility of losing his property located on post, minutes from where he works.
Responding to Resident Needs
Aware of the uncertainty facing defense contractors living on post, Corvias support team member Elsy Devarie and her colleagues proactively reached out to residents to reassure them and explain the support Corvias would provide.
“Unlike many off-post rental situations, residents facing pay delays due to the government shutdown, resulting in non-payment of rent, would be given a payment extension until funds were available to help avoid the risk of losing their home,” Elsy explained to Chris.
Elsy also made Chris aware that late fees would be temporarily waived, and specified which account actions related to nonpayment would be temporarily paused for the duration of the shutdown for affected residents.
Humanity and Respect in Action
Making sure Chris felt cared for was important to Elsy. She maintained consistent communication with him, documenting every conversation through email. She worked quickly to provide answers to any questions Chris had and made sure he was informed and included in every step of the supportive process.
“Elsy’s empathy and attention to detail were front and center with every communication,” Chris said.
Elsy’s dedication went beyond just doing her job; she was a reassuring presence.
“With steady communication and an empathetic approach, I was able to turn a moment of fear into one of relief and trust,” Elsy said. “I was simply showing humanity and respect.”
Over the course of the shutdown, Elsy continued to provide regular guidance aligned with Corvias policy, helping ensure Chris and his family knew what each stage of support would look like.
“I hope that I will never have to engage Ms. Devarie in this manner ever again,” Chris said. “But it is comforting to know that she will have my needs, along with all the other residents, well at hand should we go down this road again.”