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Irish students arriving to New York find it difficult to find work and accommodation

Some hot and bothered new arrivals shared their frustrations

APRIL DREW,

Irish Voice Reporter

Published Thursday, June 17, 2010, 1:12 PM

Updated Thursday, June 17, 2010, 1:50 PM

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Micheal Hallissey, Pearse Dillon, Eoin O’Connor and Colin McSweeney.

They were on their way to the Emerald Isle Immigration Center on Katonah Avenue in the Bronx to seek help.

John Hayes, J-1 co-coordinator at the Emerald Isle’s office in the Bronx, told the Irish Voice the center has seen a huge increase in the numbers of J-1 students arriving in New York this year as opposed to previous summers.

The worry, said Hayes, is that a lot of the students are “not prepared for the economic situation in the U.S.”
Hayes and the staff at both Emerald Isle centers are doing their best to seek employment for the students.

“I’ve been largely cold calling various links we have -- for example, people who used this office in the past or who have reached out to Irish students in the previous summers, but of course at the moment it’s proving increasingly difficult in the current economic climate,” said Hayes.

Although the job situation is bad, Hayes said the accommodation issue is “a lot trickier.”

“In the past few summers the J-1 students have not been superb tenants, making it difficult to find rentals, but we are delighted when people come through our doors with something available for them,” said Hayes.

To contact the Aisling Center call 914-237-5121. To contact the Emerald Isle Immigration Center call 718-478-5502, for Michelle Ext. 204 in Queens, or John at Ext. 106 in the Bronx.

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CandyKitchen | Aug 02, 2010, 10:24 AM EDT

We here in Ocean City Maryland at Candy Kitchen Shoppes have jobs and HOUSING for students. I found this article beneficial, I sent an email to Emerald Isle Immigration Center and will be working with the students summer 2011! There are seasonal jobs in America, especially in busy beach resort towns where employees are greatly needed mid May thru Mid September.

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Sungold | Jun 21, 2010, 02:41 AM EDT

These students need to get themselves to the summer tourist areas such as the Long Island resort towns, the Jersey Shore, etc. They can hopefully find some work in the restaurant or motel businesses there. That is why most of the Irish youth coming through Boston looking for summer work, go to Cape Cod. You are not going to find jobs in Yonkers. Americans are probably not finding jobs in Yonkers.

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Monsoonman | Jun 20, 2010, 02:45 PM EDT

This reminds me of when I left the mainland US to drive through Canada to get work in Alaska when I was a young lad. The employment news in Alaska was grim at the time, but I was full of optimism that I could land a gig somewhere. But at the Canadian border, before they let me in to travel through, they made sure I had the funds to get to the US border and out of their country. They didn't want me to be a burden on them(Hey US government are you listening?). I did get high paying work in the land of the midnight sun and am glad I didn't listen to the naysayers.

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GeorgeDavis | Jun 19, 2010, 09:37 PM EDT

I would recommend they try Arkansas or North Dakota. But one of the reasons they are coming here is because all the part-time or temporary jobs in Ireland have been taken by foreign immigrants. That's Fianna Fail policy, to settle Ireland with foreigners.

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Alanwin | Jun 19, 2010, 06:42 AM EDT

Try places off the beaten track.How about Iowa or the Carolinas?.

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LilPaddy | Jun 18, 2010, 11:44 PM EDT

This is just a continuing story of "US" Irish, believing stories of 'pie in the sky'..... I did it in 1958, and went to the Isle of Man.... with the same "where are all the jobs and good times I heard about" results??? BUT I WAS NOT A COLLEGE THEN... What the F is wrong with these "STUDENTS"???? Just who is keeping them away from the world recession news??? Number one on my list of "FEED OFF THE IRISH NAME" would be Irish Central founder Niall O'Dowd and Co. Cork Writer/Solicitor Rory Fitzgerald.... (Yes that same one who wrote on I.C 3-17-10 about the 9-11-01 story... What a pair of 3-dollar bills.... Facts and/or details?...@ 951-264-7103... P.S. With all of us "Irish"... No Irish in need of a bed or job... should be without!!! There was a time when we all needed a hand up!!!

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IrishEyes89 | Jun 18, 2010, 09:32 PM EDT

I know that America has the reputation of the "Land of Opportunity" but this is ridiculous. College students should have made concrete plans for accommodations BEFORE they spent a thousand dollars and hopped on a plane to New York without any solid prospects for housing or work. Did they think that New York was immune from the global recession? Local New Yorkers can't find jobs in the current climate and these students expect to be able find short term work? It makes no sense and I'm disappointed in these Irish college lads. They did not invest any forethought or planning into their summer plans and they only have themselves to blame if they are forced to return home.

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jflanagan | Jun 18, 2010, 03:56 PM EDT

Yet Mr. O'Dowd would have us continue to ignore the Illegal Aliens in this country stealing jobs from our own citizens and these Legal Immigrant/Visitors. As long as we have the people coming here because their own countries are corrupt and working under the table for small wages, these students, our own students and the unemployed won't find a decent good paying job.

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Kathleen55 | Jun 18, 2010, 03:25 PM EDT

Too bad nobody has thought of work in Washington, D.C....I have room for 2 boarders. The restaurants and pubs/bars are hiring. But I agree with rpmschevy - the kids should do some research before plunking down their $$$ to spend the summer in the U.S.

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Liamkeyes | Jun 18, 2010, 03:19 PM EDT

I would'nt know what to tell them. They'll be lucky if they can earn $1,100 just to get their money back. They should'nt put all their Faith in NYC. they should try Boston and San Francisco.

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rpmschevy | Jun 18, 2010, 01:05 PM EDT

If these kids are in college, one would think they have a brain cell or 2. I understand the economy in Ireland is bad, but you would think they might have done a little research, something one is suppose to learn to do in school, even before college. America is at 10% unemployment, with real unemployment probably closer to 20% and with what Obama and Pelosi are doing, businesses are not hiring. Look at the numbers before plunking $1200 down.

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Scrivner | Jun 18, 2010, 12:44 PM EDT

They really should look beyond NYC, especially in this economic climate. Here in Chicago rentals are more available and we have the Irish American Heritage Center (northside) and Celtic Park (southside) for guidance. Also they should chekcout some resort areas, from the Poconos to Door County (Wisc.) to the mountains of Colorado, the need for bright, English speaking young people is great. This would be expanding on their American Experience.

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