Summer Internship - Housing Access and Stability

BACKGROUND: The International Rescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future. Founded in 1933, the IRC is at work today in more than 40 countries and in 24 U.S. cities. The IRC's U.S. Programs (USP) department creates opportunities for refugees and other vulnerable migrants to survive and thrive in America. USP serves more than 40,000 individuals each year, including thousands of newly arrived refugees, through a diverse portfolio of programs aimed at achieving outcomes in five impact areas: Health, Safety, Economic Wellbeing, Education, and Power.

The IRC works with government bodies, civil society actors and local volunteers to help refugees, asylees and those with Special Immigrant Visas translate their past experiences into assets that are valuable to their new communities. In Denver and other offices across the country, the IRC helps refugees and asylees to rebuild their lives through services and programs that assist with initial resettlement through longer term integration. Presently, these services are case management, employment services, psychosocial support, family stabilization, health coordination, health insurance literacy, family reunification and programs for children and youth. The Denver office also has a legal services program to provide pro bono legal representation to survivors of torture, as well as direct legal services for family-based immigration.

INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW: The Housing Access & Stability Intern will work directly with refugee clients to provide individualized follow-up support as clients work towards self-sufficient housing management. They will create strategies to support clients with housing vulnerabilities to promote safe and stable housing. They will work with multiple IRC teams to develop a variety of client-facing housing materials and resource guides. This position will involve significant independent work. There is a preference for candidates who are interested in gaining program development experience and who are willing to commit to a longer internship term.

COMMITMENT:10-20 hours per week, during business hours only 9 am- 5 pm

LOCATION:IRC Denver Office and in the Community

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Meet with recently resettled refugees to provide hands on education and support to ensure comfort and confidence with bill payment and housing navigation.
• Develop new and refine existing affordable housing resources guides including property indexes, rental assistance referrals, shelters and emergency housing, and other community resources.
• Collaborate with casework and housing teams to identify cases with housing vulnerabilities. Create housing stability plans, assisting with affordable housing waitlist and other applications as needed.
• Assist in research and development of client facing housing education materials and creation of translated versions of existing materials.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
The Housing Access & Stability Intern will gain non-profit program development experience and will have access to training materials to support this work. Candidates committing to a longer period will have the option to create and implement their own monitoring, evaluation, and learning plan. They will develop the skills of listening for understanding, and motivational interviewing as they work directly with clients. They will gain experience teaching and coaching a diverse refugee population. They will learn about navigating the housing market in Denver for the refugee and low-income population.

SUPERVISION: This position reports to the Housing Services Coordinator.

This is an unpaid internship position. No financial compensation, including compensation for relocation, is available.

TO APPLY:
Interested applicants should submit an online application along with cover letter and resume to https://irc-global.my.salesforce-sites.com/volunteer.

Qualified applicants will be selected for an initial phone screening with the Volunteer Coordinator.

QUESTIONS? Email ircdenver.volunteer@rescue.org

IRC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. IRC considers all applicants on the basis of merit without regard to race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status or disability.