Who is CCRH?

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 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, development of sewer/water, childcare, and healthcare facilities.

Where would I carryout my internship program and who would be my employer?

Interns are hosted by CCRH host organization active in the development of affordable housing. Interns and Host agencies sign a participation agreement with CCRH prior to starting employment, and Interns are technically employees of the Host organization while simultaneously being a participant in the Program. Across the state, there will be approximately 12 interns each year. Intern's day-to-day work is carried out at their assigned Host organization, which is usually located within commuting proximity to the university they attend.

What is CCRH's role?

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 the Intern Program Coordinator.

How long is the internship program and am I expected to complete the entire term?

Interns are placed with a local affordable housing organization ("Host Agency") for a period of one year, working full-time during the summer and part-time (approx. 20 hrs/wk) during the following school year. All Interns are expected to make a commitment to complete the entire year and graduate from the program.

As an intern, what will I be doing?

The program teaches interns how to directly impact Community Change through a comprehensive community development approach, while providing interns with specific hands-on training in how to develop affordable housing for low-income populations. Interns work under the Host Agency Supervisor and also work closely with the Internship Program Coordinator. The intern is trained in Project Development/Management work. For this reason, the intern's responsibilities are built around a Work Plan designed by CCRH and the Host Agency. The Work Plan maps out the various projects the intern is anticipated to work on, and what tasks will be involved. Tasks will vary in type and level of responsibility throughout the year depending on what projects are active throughout the year. In most cases, interns will be given an assignment that they have no experience in at all, but through guidance and intern initiative, interns begin to embark on the challenging yet rewarding work of community development. Interns may be asked to work independently or as part of a team. An Intern's workflow may also shift from a faster to slower pace at different times.

Interns will spend a majority of their time in the office, and may spend some amount of time participating in activities outside the office such as visiting development sites, attending local city or community planning meetings, attending and participating in meetings with architects, lenders, general contractors, etc. The amount and type of meetings that Interns engage in will depend on the projects that are active at the host agency. Most host agencies have multiple projects that are active, and Interns will usually be assigned to work with a professional on one or several projects. Some past Intern projects included:

• Participating and helping facilitate community meetings about proposed developmentsAssisting with land and property acquisitions
• Assisting in the preparation of federal, state, local, and private funding applications for financing affordable housing for low-income households (could be family, farmworkers, single males or females, special needs populations, etc.).
• Assisting in the preparation of an Environmental Assessment report for a project being considered Participating in various City and County project approval meetings
• Conducting an assessment or needs survey to determine the housing and community development needs of low-income people
• Participating in planning meetings with the architect and property management on the design of architectural drawings for affordable housing developments and community facilities such as child care centers and community recreation buildings Assist with the financial loan closings on developments
• Assist with the development of construction budgets and development financial proformas
• Participating in construction meetings and preparing construction draw requests
• Helping to administer a program that's designed to replace outdated septic tanks with a new sewer system in an unincorporated area, including assisting families with applications and coordinating with contractors

The above list is merely a sample of projects in the past.

Are there other critical components to the program?

As Interns, student participants are required to attend various supplemental trainings and activities, and prior to Program Graduation, all interns must complete a final project. See the Program Description for more details on supplemental program activities.

Are the hours of employment flexible? How many hours am I expected to work?

The program starts in June, and ends at the end of May of the following year. The schedule is determined by the host agency supervisors and Intern. However, interns are expected to work full-time during the Summer (approx. June through August/September), generally 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Interns are expected to work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during the academic year - Fall, Winter, Spring. The schedule is flexible but Interns must be able to work an average of 17 through 20 hours per week. Interns who schedule their hours so that they work longer periods at host agencies tend to get more quality training and experience. Thus, it is recommended that Interns work for durations of no less than 4 hours at a time if possible.

Is this a paid internship, and if so, how much does it pay?

$12.00 to $14.00 per hour (based on local wages).

Some benefits of participating in the CCRH Intern Program?

By participating in this Internship, students may be eligible to:

• Gain course credit (must be coordinated by Intern with University
• Incorporate internship work with a research paper, senior project, or graduate thesis (must be coordinated by Intern with University
• Fulfill an internship requirement (must be coordinated by Intern with University
• Gain work experience in a professional settingGain inroads to the housing and community development field
• Make personal connections with professionals in the industry

Interns have come from a wide variety of majors:

• Business
• Community Development
• Community Studies
• Construction Management
• Sociology
• Environmental Studies
• Ethnic Studies
• Finance
• History
• Political Science/Government
• Spanish

Graduates of the program have gone on to pursue careers within the following fields:

• Affordable Housing & Community Development
• Banking/Lending/Finance
• Economic Development/Revitalization
• Housing Advocacy Research
• Rural Development
• Social Services
• Tenant Organizing