SAN DIEGO -- For those on fixed incomes that come straight from the federal government, the prospect of a government shutdown is a real and dire possibility.
Lawmakers in Washington D.C. cannot agree on the 2011 budget, and if a compromise isn't reached by Friday, many federal services will stop.
"There's a lot of pride and a lot of arrogance going on now," said Larry Freeman, a blind City Heights man who lives off Social Security. "It doesn't help anybody."
"I get fearful," said Freeman's neighbor Kathleen Crippen, who is also blind. "I'm real frightened about it."
Maxine Smith, who works with Crippen and Freeman at City Heights Development Corporation said many low-income and disabled people are already concerned.
"The residents will go into a stressful psychological mode," she explained, "It's stressful when you don't have any money coming in."
A government shutdown could delay the release of Social Security checks, food stamps and other social services. It could also close Post Offices, delay tax refunds and shudder park services. That's a small sample of what may get affected.
Crippen and Freeman's concerns are more personal and immediate.
"I really depend on it. There's nowhere I could turn," Crippen stated.
Lawmakers in Washington D.C. cannot agree on the 2011 budget, and if a compromise isn't reached by Friday, many federal services will stop.
"There's a lot of pride and a lot of arrogance going on now," said Larry Freeman, a blind City Heights man who lives off Social Security. "It doesn't help anybody."
"I get fearful," said Freeman's neighbor Kathleen Crippen, who is also blind. "I'm real frightened about it."
Maxine Smith, who works with Crippen and Freeman at City Heights Development Corporation said many low-income and disabled people are already concerned.
"The residents will go into a stressful psychological mode," she explained, "It's stressful when you don't have any money coming in."
A government shutdown could delay the release of Social Security checks, food stamps and other social services. It could also close Post Offices, delay tax refunds and shudder park services. That's a small sample of what may get affected.
Crippen and Freeman's concerns are more personal and immediate.
"I really depend on it. There's nowhere I could turn," Crippen stated.
