Volunteer firefighter and EMT recruitment efforts are ramping up in the Capital Region, with Albany County’s Elsmere Fire District taking a unique approach. To attract young talent, the department offers free housing to college students through its Bunk-In Program, WNYT reports.
The program provides fully furnished apartments next to the firehouse for up to six students in exchange for their volunteer hours with the Elsmere Fire Company and Delmar-Bethlehem EMS.
The Bunk-In Program has proven effective in addressing the ongoing struggle to recruit volunteer first responders, a challenge facing many local fire departments. Elsmere Fire District launched the initiative two years ago, acquiring the apartment building through a creative funding plan.
The program not only fills critical service gaps but also gives students valuable real-world experience.
