With gas prices and the housing market as inflated as ever, Turning Stone Casino Resort is going above and beyond to help its employees live affordably.
The New York casino based out of Verona is offering subsidized housing options to its employees with monthly rent as low as $550. Cooks, chefs, table dealers and other hospitality workers are eligible for the housing benefits.
Turning Stone Casino assisting employees
When Turning Stone opened its doors in 1993, it was a full-service casino. Since then, the Oneida Indian Nation-owned operator has added five hotels, five golf courses, a 5,000-seat entertainment venue, two spas and nine bars and restaurants.
The casino is continuing to grow and has hired an additional 400 employees since January, and plans to keep hiring. Having a nearby housing village will help attract new casino team members, along with helping the workers save money.
The housing complex, named the Villages at Stoney Creek, is located in rural Oneida County. There’s less residential property in Oneida, which can cause rental prices to inflate. Turning Stone’s subsidized housing will provide affordable living options within a commutable distance of the casino.
What Turning Stone subsidized housing has to offer
Apartments in the Villages at Stoney Creek offer in-unit laundry, some utilities, parking and round-trip shuttle buses to the casino. Here are the monthly pricing options for residents:
- One-bed: $550
- Two-bed: $650
- Three-bed: $750
According to Turning Stone, employees from Albany or Rochester who move to the casino’s subsidized housing can save between $8,400 and $9,000 annually when combining the money saved from living expenses and transportation.
Ray Halbritter, Oneida Indian Nation representative and Oneida Nation Enterprises CEO, had this to say:
“The Villages at Stoney Creek is a great opportunity to put new employees in a position to launch new careers, while also building up some savings in the process.”
Are any other NY casinos offering subsidized housing?
Turning Stone offering affordable housing to workers is a trailblazing move, as no other New York casinos have gone to this length to help its employees.
Rick Richards, general manager of Rivers Casino in Schenectady, told the Times Union that the casino sits in a “pretty good housing market” thanks to a high population density which makes for more affordable housing options. But Rivers has offered bus passes to employees looking to avoid high gas prices.
Turning Stone also putting on hiring event
Casino hiring managers will be at the Albany Capital Center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Aug. 23 to meet with potential casino employees. The address for the event is 55 S. Eagle St, Albany, NY 12207. Qualified candidates will receive job offers on the spot.
These are the pay rates and benefits offered to some Turning Stone employees:
- Cooks: $17-$20/hour
- Table dealers: $20-$25/hour
- 401(k)
- Health care
- Tuition reimbursement
