The California Coalition for Rural Housing (CCRH) is now accepting applications for the 2024-2025 Diversity Internship Program. This one-year paid internship aims to increase racial diversity in the Affordable Housing and Community Development field while addressing the diverse needs of rural communities in California. Host applications are due Friday, January 17th, 2024.   ​
 

Program Overview 

The CCRH Diversity Internship Program is designed to recruit, train and retain Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) college students, typically for undergraduates in their Junior or Senior year, and provide them with hands-on experience in affordable housing development. We train and place BIPOC students, as well as students from low-income rural backgrounds, immigrant communities, or tribal communities, that reflect the diverse demographics of Rural California.  

 

Interns will gain hands-on experience in creating affordable, healthy, rural communities, with a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies involved in financing and developing housing projects—from concept inception to construction completion. Host agencies play a key role in guiding this development while benefiting from the interns' contributions to ongoing projects. 

 

The program prioritizes students in their final year of college, positioning them to transition into full-time roles within the field after graduation. By participating as a host agency, you contribute to the growth of a diverse and skilled workforce that can help shape the future of affordable housing. 

 

The Program’s History 
 

Launched in 1998, the CCRH Rural California Internship Program for Diversity in Nonprofit Housing and Community Development was created to provide students from farmworker and economically distressed rural communities with training and career opportunities in affordable housing. Since then, the program has expanded to include Washington (2010), Oregon (2012), and Hawai’i (2023). To date, over 200 students have completed the program, with at least 50% retention in the field after graduation. The Internship Program is funded by Bank of America, NeighborWorks America, Rural LISC, Merritt Community Capital, Wells Fargo, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Hau’oli Mau Loa Foundation, and individual donors. 

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How the Program Works 

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Host Agencies are selected by January 2025. CCRH then recruits potential intern participants from colleges and universities within driving distance of the selected agencies. The recruitment process begins in February, and interns are selected no later than May 15th, 2025, following interviews conducted by both CCRH and the Host Agency. 

 

Once selected, the Host Agency becomes the intern's direct employer, with interns beginning full-time work in June (40 hours per week). Starting in August-September, interns will transition to part-time roles (16-20 hours per week) to accommodate their academic schedules. Over the course of the year, interns can work up to 1320 hours, per the agreement between CCRH and the Host Agency. 

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The Host Agency is responsible for guiding interns through a structured scope of work and learning plan. This includes ensuring interns are supported in developing core competency skills throughout the year. A detailed list of these competencies can be found on page 3 of the Request for Applications form (linked below). Alongside agency duties, interns are expected to participate in CCRH training and supplemental activities and host agencies are expected to support intern participation in these activities 

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Intern Pay 

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Interns are paid $18.00 per hour. Host agencies pay 65% of the cost of the net hourly pay rate, plus applicable health, dental, fringe benefits, taxes, and insurance that may apply for the 2025–2026 program year. CCRH and the host agency enter into an agreement and the intern is technically an employee of the Host agency. Host agencies are expected to pay the intern for hours that the intern is away at CCRH-hosted intern training and supplemental activities. ​