There’s a struggle to find volunteer firefighters and EMTs.

Capital Region fire departments have been spreading the word in hopes of recruiting new volunteers.

One fire company has come up with a new, creative approach – provide free housing for college students in exchange for volunteer hours.

It’s called the Bunk-In Program, and the Elsmere Fire Company is the only firehouse in the region with a program like it.

The fire company owns three town-house style apartments, where it houses college kids for free. In return, those students volunteer with Elsmere Fire and with Delmar-Bethlehem EMS.

Meet some of the recruits, and learn about where the money came from to pay for the house, by watching the video of Subrina Dhammi’s story.