Legislative & Government Affairs Intern

Housing Opportunity Com•Silver Spring, MD

About The Position

The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC) was established in 1974 to better respond to the County’s need for affordable housing. HOC is Montgomery County’s Public Housing Authority, Housing Finance Agency, and Public Developer, assisting nearly 20,000 households with rental assistance, mixed-income development, and homeownership programs. We are seeking a motivated intern to join our team for 3 months in the agency’s Legislative and Government Affairs team. The Intern will help track and analyze local, state and federal legislation and regulations that might impact HOC; research new policy ideas, national best practices, and trends in housing policy; and assist in developing charts, slides, fact sheets, memorandum and letters to support HOC’s internal policy making process and external legislative advocacy. A candidate that has the skills or willingness to learn may be asked to conduct data analysis and construct compelling data visualizations to better inform policy decisions. In addition to assisting with the daily work of the LGA team, over the course of the internship, the intern will be expected to complete an independent research project on a topic related to affordable housing, chosen by the intern in consultation with the LGA team.

Requirements

Currently pursuing a degree in a related field or recent graduate.
Strong communication skills and analytical skill.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
Ability to perform other related duties as assigned.

Nice To Haves

Skills or willingness to learn data analysis and construct compelling data visualizations.

Responsibilities

Researching and drafting a memo analyzing how other local jurisdictions manage a particular policy or operational challenge.
Working with operational divisions to assess the potential impact of a proposed legislative or regulatory change.
Assisting in the planning and execution of a policy roundtable with HOC and other housing agencies to share information and best practices.
Attending an informational hearing or webinar and reporting back to the team.
Analyzing how funding streams and programs are implemented to look for opportunities to remove policy barriers or add additional resources.
Maintaining a database of active legislation that may affect HOC and updating it as it moves through the legislative process.
Tracking key legislative and regulatory dates such as public hearings, comment deadlines, and committee sessions and helping to ensure that HOC’s views are heard as appropriate.
Assisting in the preparation of presentations, letters and memorandum to respond to legislative requests for information or provide information.
Drafting position papers outlining HOC’s positions on legislation.
Perform related and other duties as assigned.