OCEAN PINES, Md. - One Delmarva company is asking for help to house desperately needed J1 student workers. Those workers are international students who help fill seasonal jobs. Matt Ortt Companies is asking Ocean Pines homeowners to consider hosting the international students for 16 weeks. Chelsey Chmelik manages Coastal Salt in Ocean City and says the workers are needed this season more than ever.
“There has not been a more dire need for work than right now. And to have all these kids who are willing to come over here and work and the reason they can't come over here is because they don't have housing is shameful a little bit,” Chmelik said.
Each year thousands of workers fill seasonal jobs. With many property owners earning more for weekly rentals, the pool for workforce housing has shrunk. But Susan Jones with the Hotel Motel Restaurant association says this idea is thinking outside the box.
“This particular idea is something we can have an immediate solution to the problem. You are not going to have to build something, it doesn't take the zoning to figure it out, it's an immediate solution,” Jones said.
According to the Company the going rental rate for the 16 weeks is around $2,400. Chmelik says some ocean pines residents have already reached out.
“We've already had multiple people respond. I have gotten emails already, sending them in the right direction so it will take a lot but truthfully any amount is helpful,” Chmelik said.
J1 students come from all over the world from countries such as Turkey, Russia, and Romania and others. The deadline to inquire about hosting a J1 student is January 15th. For more information or to inquire about hosting a J1 student, click here or email Chelsey Chmelik at CHELSEY@MATTORTCOMPANIES.COM.