How should landlords handle qualified government employees who may have difficulty paying rent due to a government shutdown, where they’re not being paid, but will receive back-pay once the shutdown ends? Is there a policy that can/should be adopted to deal with the situation?

There is no requirement for a landlord to do anything under these circumstances. Although there is minimal concern about fairness and fair housing, a policy can be established that should be consistent and applied uniformly with all. From a public relations standpoint, it is our recommendation that a policy be established.