Policy and Research Intern

Enterprise Community Partners • Los Angeles, CA

20h • $20 - $28 • Onsite

About The Position

The Policy and Research Intern will support the Southern California Office’s policy and research efforts, working closely with the Policy Team and the Sustainable Connected Communities Team. This position is an excellent opportunity for an individual who is beginning their career and looking to apply their research, data, and writing skills to mission-driven work. This individual will be able to grow their knowledge and experience in affordable housing and community development, policy and research, and collaborating with cross-sector partners. The Intern will primarily support Enterprise’s research and policy needs related to the 2026 California legislative session, including analyzing data on relevant housing programs and developing advocacy materials to share this information; developing case studies of specific affordable housing projects; conducting research on key policy topics, including affordable housing funding programs, rental arrears; analyzing policy proposals; and developing additional communications and advocacy materials. The Intern will also assist with Pathways to Preservation, a research project designed to provide data-backed evidence on the greatest risk factors threatening the preservation of affordable housing in Southern California. The project analyzes operating cost data from at-risk affordable housing properties across seven neighborhood-based nonprofit developers, serving low-income families, seniors, and supportive housing residents. The project's goal is to highlight the growing urgency of preserving Los Angeles’ existing affordable housing stock, provide evidence to inform policy solutions and funding strategies, and support affordable housing developers in keeping homes affordable and in service for the long term. We are seeking a highly motivated candidate with exceptional organizational skills as well as strong written and verbal communication who is willing to do a range of tasks to ensure quality workflow and delivery of high-quality work products. What is unique about this internship is the opportunity for mentorship: the Intern will work closely with the Policy Team and learn about Enterprise as an organization. The internship is expected to start on June 1, 2026 and end by August 21, 2026. Approximately 30 hours a week is expected, with at least two days working in-person at the Los Angeles Office. Enterprise is not able to take on international students at this time.

Requirements

• Preference for a current graduate or undergraduate student in public policy, urban/city planning, public administration or similar field; or comparable professional experience.
• Knowledge and interest in housing policy, land use and zoning, affordable housing finance, and development.
• Must possess strong written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively without constant supervision.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to coordinate activities prioritize conflicting demands and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work independently, solve problems, and take responsibility for moving tasks forward with minimal supervision.
• Diplomacy, composure, flexibility, and ability to adapt to a variety of situations.
• Thorough knowledge of and proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Outlook and Power Point.
• Experience with or willingness to gain knowledge of additional collaborative software and platforms.
• Willingness to work as an effective, enthusiastic member of a team in a dynamic environment.
• Commitment to social, racial, and economic justice.

Responsibilities

• Conduct research on affordable housing programs, impact of historic funding to housing programs, and emerging policy issues, including rental arrears.
• Develop various advocacy and communications materials to present key data, case studies, and background information on legislative and budget priorities, as well as to summarize Enterprise’s research.
• Support Policy Team in tasks including developing agendas, notetaking, scheduling and meeting logistics, and creating communications materials.
• Support quantitative analysis of operating cost data, including reviewing financial statements, identifying trends, and summarizing key findings across properties
• Assist with qualitative analysis related to operating challenges faced by affordable housing providers
• Contribute to drafting/editing a research brief or white paper summarizing findings, implications, and recommendations
• Provide general research support, including literature review, data visualization, and preparation of presentation or briefing materials

Benefits

• You will be working with a group of talented professionals who are motivated by serving the community and addressing the need for affordable housing.
• The base pay for this role is $20 to $24 for undergraduate students and $24-$28 for graduate students, depending on level of skills and experience.
• The salary range for this position is represented by the low and high end of the range for the amount to be paid for the position.
• Salaries paid at Enterprise will vary based on factors that may include skills, education, location, experience, and performance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed