Join the CCRH Internship Program | California Coalition for Rural Housing

Join the CCRH Internship Program!

Explore a Career in Affordable Housing & Community Development

Empower Communities. Gain Career Skills. Make a Difference.

Are you passionate about creating a more just and inclusive society? Do you want a career where your work positively impacts underserved communities? The CCRH Internship Program is a paid, one-year internship offering hands-on experience, leadership training, and mentorship. This program equips emerging professionals to contribute meaningfully to the affordable housing and community development field.

About the Program

Since 1998, the California Coalition for Rural Housing (CCRH) has offered its Internship Program, training and supporting over 200 interns from underserved backgrounds—including rural, immigrant, low-income, farmworker, and tribal communities—to become leaders in affordable housing and community development.

Interns gain real-world experience working on affordable housing projects, learning the technical and leadership skills necessary to create healthier, more inclusive communities. Host agencies, located throughout California and Oregon, provide a structured work environment and professional mentorship.

Over the course of a year, interns work directly with their nonprofit host agencies on affordable housing development projects, helping to create dignified housing solutions for underserved communities.

Why Join the Program?

By participating, you'll:

Earn While You Learn: $18/hour for up to 1,320 hours over the program year.
Gain Real-World Experience: Work with professionals on housing projects from concept to completion.
Access Leadership Development: Attend retreats, workshops, and training sessions to grow your skills.
Build Your Network: Connect with nonprofit leaders and housing professionals dedicated to social impact.
Contribute to Positive Change: Support rural and historically underserved communities.

What You'll Do and Learn

As a CCRH Intern, you will:

Assist with financial applications and loan closings for housing developments.
Review and manage project budgets and development milestones.
Coordinate community engagement initiatives and resident services.
Learn from leadership shadowing, technical workshops, and mentorship opportunities.
Contribute to creating dignified, affordable housing in underserved communities.

Eligibility: Who Should Apply

We encourage applications from individuals with diverse backgrounds, including those from historically underserved rural, low-income, immigrant, farmworker, and tribal communities.

Ideal candidates are:

Enrolled in their junior or senior year of a 4-year undergraduate college (recent graduates and community college students will be considered on a case-by-case basis).
Passionate about making a difference in underserved communities.
Interested in exploring careers in affordable housing, nonprofit leadership, or social impact.
Eager to learn technical skills like project management, budgeting, and community engagement.
Passionate about affordable housing, community development, and equity work.
Detail-oriented, self-motivated, and committed to creating positive change.

Most placements may require interns to have access to reliable transportation.

Program Timeline & Locations (2025-2026)

Work Schedule:

Full-Time Work (40 hours/week): June – August 2025
Part-Time Work (16-20 hours/week): September 2025 – May 2026

Mandatory Training Events:

A 4-day in-person Summer Training Institute (July–August 2025)
Semi-monthly or monthly virtual workshops throughout the year
Rural Housing Summit
Mid-Winter Retreat
Final Project Presentation and Graduation

Internship Locations:

California: Ventura, Ukiah, Chico, Salinas, Watsonville, Mammoth Lakes, Sacramento, Visalia
Oregon: Sherwood

How to Apply

Step 1: Submit your application through our Zoho Recruit portal.

Include your resume, cover letter, and at least one letter of recommendation (required).

📅 Priority Deadline: March 28, 2025

Rolling Consideration: After March 28, applications may still be accepted for open locations until all placements are filled.

Questions?

We’re here to help! Contact Austyn Perry at Austyn@calruralhousing.org.

Apply Here!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

In California, nonprofit organizations have played a lead role in community development activities benefiting rural low-income families. The California Coalition for Rural Housing (CCRH) is an umbrella for many of these organizations and others, such as nonprofit housing developers and public housing authorities. Most of these organizations began as single-purpose housing development corporations, but have since embraced more holistic approaches, combining affordable housing with other services benefiting residents and whole communities such as vocational training, financial literacy, homeownership education, development of sewer/water, childcare, and healthcare facilities.

CCRH coordinates all Program components; including reviewing and approving the work assignments assigned to the Intern at the Host Agency and coordinating all supplemental program activities and trainings. Interns do not pay for any program costs. Interns stay in regular contact with Intern Program staff.

Interns are hosted by CCRH member and/or partner host organizations active in the development and financing of affordable housing. Interns sign agreement with Host agencies prior to starting employment, since Interns are technically employees of the Host organization while simultaneously being a participant in the CCRH Internship Program. There are approximately 10 interns each year from across California and Oregon. Intern’s day-to-day work is carried out at their assigned Host organization. CCRH seeks Interns, who live or will be living within driving distance to the internship locations available. CCRH does not provide relocation nor housing assistance.

Interns are placed with a local affordable housing organization or housing authority (“Host Agency”) for a period of one year, working full-time during the summer and part-time (approx. 16-20 hrs/wk) during the following school year. This work schedule applies to both college students and recent undergraduate college students. All Interns are expected to make a commitment to complete the entire year and graduate from the program.

CALIFORNIA COALITION FOR RURAL HOUSING

Nonprofit Organization