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Fisher House Foundation To Pay Military Death Benefits During Government Shutdown

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- When a member of the U.S. military dies while serving, the Department of Defense typically provides the family with $100,000. But with the government shut down, those payments can't be made.

So, as WCBS 880's Peter Haskell reported, the Fisher House Foundation -- which provides a place to live for families visiting wounded service members -- has agreed to pick up the tab.

"It's just to take care of a lot of those expenses that come with losing a loved one," said Derek Donovan, a spokesman for Fisher House.

Fisher House Foundation To Pay Military Death Benefits During Shutdown

"Their families sacrificed a lot, and they sacrifice more during the government shutdown," which will enter its 10th day Thursday.

Donovan said the Fisher House Foundation has undesignated funds that are not required to be spent on housing.

Ken Fisher, the foundation's chairman and a senior partner of a Manhattan-based real estate firm, "didn't think those were the families that should be bearing the brunt of the government shutdown," Donovan said.

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