Empower Communities. Gain Career Skills. Make a Difference.

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Are you passionate about creating a more just and inclusive society? Do you want a career where your work positively impacts low-income communities? The California Coalition for Rural Housing (CCRH) is seeking passionate, community-minded students for a one-year paid internship focused on affordable housing development.

Interns work alongside experienced real estate development teams at nonprofit housing organizations to help plan, finance, and build affordable rental housing - from early project planning to construction and lease-up. You’ll gain hands-on experience in the development process while receiving leadership training and professional mentorship to launch your career in the field. 

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About the Program 

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Since 1998, the California Coalition for Rural Housing (CCRH) has operated its Internship Program to support students and emerging professionals interested in affordable housing development and community-based work. Over 200 interns have participated in the program, gaining real-world experience while working with nonprofit housing developers serving rural and underserved communities. 

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Interns are placed with nonprofit host agencies and contribute to active affordable housing projects while receiving structured supervision, professional mentorship, and leadership development opportunities. Over the course of the year, interns build technical skills, professional confidence, and a deeper understanding of how housing development intersects with community needs.

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Why Join the Program?​

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By participating, you'll:

• Earn While You Learn: $20/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. 

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What You'll Do and Learn​

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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. 

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Eligibility: Who Should Apply

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We encourage applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences, including those connected to rural, low-income, farmworker, and tribal communities. 

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Applicants must meet the following baseline eligibility requirements: 

• Be enrolled in their junior or senior year of a 4-year undergraduate college (recent graduates, graduate students, and community college students may be considered on a case-by-case basis). 

• Be able to commit to the full internship schedule: full-time (40 hours/week) during summer 2027 and part-time (16–20 hours/week) from September 2027 to May 2028. 

• Have an interest in exploring careers in affordable housing, real estate development, or nonprofit leadership. 

• Live or plan to live within driving distance of one of the participating host agency locations. 

• Have access to reliable transportation (personal or public). 

In addition, strong candidates often bring: 

• An interest in or understanding of affordable housing challenges and community development issues, such as housing affordability, displacement, access to opportunity, rural housing needs, etc. 

• Familiarity with these topics through lived experience, coursework, research, volunteer work, employment, or community involvement. 

• Curiosity about how housing policy and development decisions impact people and communities. 

• A desire to build technical skills such as project coordination, budgeting, and working on multidisciplinary teams. 

• Strong communication skills, attention to detail, and a willingness to learn in a professional environment. 

• A readiness to grow professionally through mentorship, feedback, and hands-on project work.

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Program Timeline & Locations  

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Work Schedule: 

• Full-Time Work (40 hours/week): June 2027 – August 2027 

• Part-Time Work (16-20 hours/week): September 2027 – May 2028 

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Mandatory Training Events

Interns are expected to participate in the following program components: 

• A four-day, in-person Summer Training Institute (July 2027) 

• Semi-monthly or monthly virtual workshops throughout the year 

• Rural Housing Summit (September or October 2027) 

• Mid-Winter Retreat (January 2028) 

• Final Project Presentation and Graduation (May 2028) 

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Internship Locations: 

• Host agency locations for 2027-2028 are still being finalized and will be confirmed by the end of January 2027. Based on past placements, likely locations include:

• California: Chico, Sacramento, Ventura, Visalia (additional locations such as Fresno, Mammoth Lakes, Modesto, San Diego, Santa Rosa, Stockton, Ukiah, and Watsonville / Salinas may be added)

• Oregon: TBD 

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How to Apply

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Applications for the 2027-2028 program will open in February 2027.

​Once the application is live, you’ll submit it through our Zoho Recruit portal.

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To prepare, you’ll need:

• A resume

• A cover letter

• At least one letter of recommendation (required)

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📅 Priority Deadline Will Be: March 26, 2027 

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Rolling Consideration: After March 26th, applications may still be accepted for open locations until all placements are filled. 

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Want a reminder when applications open? Join our interest list and we’ll email you as soon as the portal goes live and host agency locations are confirmed.

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Questions?

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

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