Housing Intern, Summer 2024

IRC Louisville’s Housing Team supports newly arrived refugees by securing short-term and long-term housing; coordinating move-ins, lease-signings, and grocery pickups; securing a culturally appropriate meal to welcome families upon arrival; and providing transportation to clients. The Summer 2024 Housing Intern works closely with the Housing Specialist to ensure clients receive crucial services moving into their first homes in the U.S. seamless and high-quality services will work to expand the capacity of the resettlement team.

This is an unpaid internship position that requires a minimum commitment of 20 hours a week for at least two months.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Intern will develop skills in: problem solving, client services, intercultural social work, and housing logistics navigation.
• Intern will gain US resettlement agency experience in assessing program needs.
• Intern will learn how to communicate cross-culturally with a diverse population, including how to effectively utilize interpreters.
• Intern will acquire knowledge of programs and public benefits available to humanitarian immigrants.
• Intern will gain skills in strategic research and outreach strategies.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide equal treatment to all client groups in accordance with the agency’s commitment to the dignity of all persons.
• Create Excel spreadsheets and maps that can aid in the monitoring of housing resources and progress towards goals.
• Help coordinate materials needed for housing setups.
• Work to make sure inventory of supplies are in stock, organized, and ready to distribute in new homes.
• Support the team with outreach to landlords.
• Assist clients with lease-signings.
• Assist with various activities such as tenant applications, housing orientation classes, and other client-facing service support.

REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to handle sensitive client information confidentially.
• Strong intercultural communication skills, including demonstrated ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds and across language barriers.
• Ability to work independently and as a part of a team.
• Comfortable with Microsoft Office products and willingness to learn to use new software for data entry.
• Adherence to IRC volunteer/intern and workplace policies.
• Fluency/proficiency in English, both spoken and written, are required; proficiency in language(s) spoken by client group is desired, but not required.

TRAINING & GUIDANCE

In-depth training will be provided for interns to understand IRC programming and the various needs of clients accessing IRC services. Interns will receive training on IRC’s federal R&P and APA service agreements and their programmatic requirements for resettlement services. Interns with client languages who could serve as an interpreter will receive guidance on policies when interpreting. Other activity specific training will be provided as needed. Flexibility, initiative, and a desire to collaborate are essential qualities for this intern opportunity. A high-level of confidentiality is required when working with IRC clients.

Please note that this is an UNPAID internship; however, IRC Louisville will provide mileage reimbursement for person vehicle usage during the internship. All intern opportunities are contingent on clearing a background check*. Interns must adhere to the IRC intern and workplace policies, which includes confidentiality and client safeguarding.

FOR SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, TEACHERS, & YOUTH PROGRAM LEADERS

If you would like to discuss connecting your organization with the IRC in Louisville for internship opportunities, please email Alma Herović, Development Manager, at [email protected] with the subject line “INTERNSHIP.”

OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED & SUPPORT

• Learn more about the IRC’s work at Rescue.org/Louisville
• Fight for policies that deliver real change for the people we serve: Rescue.org/take-action

Gender Equality: IRC is committed to narrowing the gender gap in leadership positions. We offer benefits that provide an enabling environment for women to participate in our workforce including parental leave, gender-sensitive security protocols and other supportive benefits and allowances.

Equal Opportunity Employer: We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.