“I don’t think they know what to expect, so they have unrealistic expectations about how much they’ll get paid and how much it will cost to live here because housing is so limited and expensive.”
Its a story we have seen played out over and over again from season to season across the mountain towns of the United States. Seasonal workers show up to ski resorts for work and a lack of snow puts their promises of gainful employment in jeopardy and then you got a bunch of broke kids wandering around town trying to shovel driveways or babysit just to cover rent….let alone food and any other incidentals.
“Any time there is a slow start to the season, we see an increase in need.There was also a slow start to the season last year, and it’s become fairly consistent year after year. We typically see a higher level of need for food banks, rental or mortgage assistance, medical assistance, and we’re starting to see the same pattern emerge this season.”
Summit Daily reports another low snow opener in Colorado is playing host to this scenario as we speak and The FIRC (Family & Intercultural Resource Center) in Summit County is stepping in to pick up the slack. Community resources available from FIRC and other organizations include financial counseling and assistance, health insurance enrollment, government benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), programs for women and children, and food assistance from local nonprofits and churches.
“November is our busiest month, because kids are here to work but they haven’t started yet or gotten paid. In December, they don’t get the hours they thought they’d get, or they haven’t gotten paid yet, so we see similarly high numbers.”
Lets hope mother nature comes to the rescue and Colorado resort employees can get some better hours but we are infinitly very grateful for charitable organizations like FIRC for taking care of the workforce in tough times. If you would like to explore volunteer opportunities go HERE or to make a donation go HERE.
images from FIRC Facebook
