ORLEANS – The Orleans Chamber of Commerce and business owners are reaching out to the community to help provide housing for J-1 visa program seasonal workers.
The J-1 program allows international students an American experience while filling seasonal jobs in the lodging and restaurant industries.
A recent housing forum brought together business owners and residents who have housed international students to encourage more community members to allow the workers to stay in their homes.
“There’s always been a problem with finding housing for the exchange students once they arrive on Cape Cod,” said Noelle Pina, the executive director of the Orleans Chamber of Commerce.
Pina said the international workers are needed as the population in town quadruples increasing, by far, the demand for workers from local businesses.
The Mid-Cape J-1 Housing program helps the students find temporary housing, host housing and housing leads throughout the summer season on the Cape.
Pina said the program provides residents with extra cash during the summer months and an intercultural experience, along with helping the community.
“It’s easier to do that instead of trying to rent your property. There’s a little bit of less restriction on it,” Pina said. “Your property is still vetted and they still look at what you are doing a little bit, but it’s not as expensive so it may be easier for some folks.”
Pina, who is an immigrant from the Bahamas, said it is a great program to help out young professionals on Cape Cod.
“I thought about it as a way of income for other young people that are in their 20s and 30s here on the Cape who may find it interesting to do,” Pina said.
Pina said she understands how the J-1 students feel after moving into the country herself.
“I can’t imagine what it would be like after you have gone through the visa process and received your visa and now you are on your way to the United States and you don’t know where you are going to sleep that night,” she said. “It must be a little bit scary.”
In 2016, about 4,000 J-1 participants from over 50 countries worked on the Cape through the J-1 visa work and travel and J-1 intern programs.
Anyone interested in participating in the housing program for the J-1 workers can contact Reverend Catherine Boyle with the Mid-Cape J-1 Housing Program in Dennis at 508-385-4660.
By BRIAN MERCHANT, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
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