Summer 2026 Center for Research on HOME Scholars Program

Summer 2026 Center for Research on HOME Scholars Program

The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development’s (HPD) Center for Research on Housing Opportunity, Mobility, and Equity (HOME) seeks students to join its research team for the summer of 2026 from Wednesday July 1, 2026 to Friday, August 21, 2026.  The Center for Research on HOME is excited to offer a student research program to provide energetic and motivated undergraduate and graduate students the opportunity to obtain experience in applied research within a large government housing agency. The HOME Scholars Program offers students the opportunity to work closely with the HPD research team on better understanding how the city helps low-income families in NYC find and maintain safe and affordable housing. The program also provides training to help students in their professional development as social scientists, such as skills related to fieldwork, survey design and administration, data dissemination, primary data collection, and translation of findings into practice.

Why do research at HPD

As the largest municipal housing agency in the U.S., HPD strives to advocate for the quality and affordability in NYC’s housing, and diversity and strength in NYC’s neighborhoods. The findings from research conducted at HPD directly help residents of NYC through policies developed to promote resident health and safety along with affordable housing. The creation, maintenance, and expansion of opportunities for New Yorkers— including housing voucher holders, formerly homeless households, people with disabilities, and populations with unmet needs—are important to attain the economic and social benefits of housing affordability.

About the HOME Scholars Program

All work will be done in person. There are no options for remote or hybrid work. HOME Scholars will work intensively with the research team on preparation for the NYC Housing and Vacancy Survey (NYCHVS). This is a citywide representative survey of New York City’s housing stock and population that is fielded about every three years (including 2026) by the city of New York. Activities will mainly comprise of fieldwork, such as speaking to NYC renters and owners throughout the five boroughs to test survey questions. Other duties include evaluating survey question phrasing and answer choices, developing materials for survey respondents, and supporting the research team with questionnaire development and other various tasks.

HOME Scholars will also have regular one-on-one meetings with the HPD research team’s Learning and Development Coordinator and staff members with expertise on their project. HOME Scholars are expected to work during the entirety of the 8-week program and will be paid $20/hour.

Eligibility requirements:

• Strong interest in research
• Must be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at an accredited academic institution during the time of application
• Work for 20 to 35 hours per week 

Strongly preferred knowledge and skills include:

• Ability to work quickly and meticulously in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work both independently and with a team
• Proven desire to learn by doing and work hard to ensure the highest quality output
• Energetic, pro-active, independent, and intellectually curious

Interdisciplinary and collaborative research approach

The HPD research team welcomes researchers from a variety of backgrounds and fields, such as urban planning, sociology, geography, anthropology, economics, language justice, social work, public health, and psychology. Mixed methods research is applied in the execution of elegantly-designed projects to ensure findings that are rigorous, relevant, representative, high in quality, and effective in informing policy. The research team envisions a group of highly disciplined and motivated student researchers of diverse training to contribute to the study of critical issues like housing disparities, residential mobility, neighborhood effects, and socioeconomic inequality.

How to apply

To apply to be a HOME Scholar for the summer of 2026:

1. Please submit your most recent resume.

2. Also submit a cover letter detailing your interest in the student research program.

3. You must also complete a supplemental application at this link: https://forms.office.com/g/XYXUk8n1j4

All application materials must be completed by the applicant without the use of generative AI.  Applicants who submit any AI-generated application material will not be considered for the summer position. The priority deadline is Friday, April 17, 2026 at 11:59 p.m., however, applicants who submit their documents afterwards will be considered on a rolling basis. Positions are highly competitive and interested students are encouraged to apply by the priority deadline. Among students who submitted their all their application materials by the priority deadline, those selected for an interview will be contacted by early May.