Summer Research & Policy Fellowship
RIHousing – Summer Research & Policy Fellowship
RIHousing is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status.
What it’s all about:
RIHousing has launched a Summer Research & Policy Fellowship to honor the life and work of Michael S. Van Leesten, the former chair of RIHousing’s Board of Commissioners and a lifelong advocate for housing and education.
Born and raised in Providence, Michael was dedicated to improving the lives of Rhode Islanders through his business leadership, civil rights activism, and public service. Michael was one of the founders and the Executive Director of the Opportunities Industrialization Center of Rhode Island (OIC), a non-profit corporation offering career coaching, job training, and support for small businesses in urban communities. Michael also served as the Chairman of the Board of Commissioners of RIHousing from 1987 to 1991 and held leadership positions with the Providence Branch of the NAACP, Urban League of Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society.
This Fellowship will support a student of color pursuing a career in any field related to housing. One fellowship will be made available.
What the Fellow will do:
- Choose a housing issue in Rhode Island to explore in-depth through research, program evaluation, or policy analysis. RIHousing’s Research, Policy & Communications team will support the fellow in refining the topic to serve both the fellow’s interest and RIHousing’s needs.
- Independently complete the project with support from research and policy staff and share findings/outcomes with RIHousing leadership and stakeholders.
- Receive support from relevant program staff
- Connect with agency leadership to learn different aspects of the housing finance, homeownership lending and rental assistance fields
- Assist in other research and policy tasks that support the fellow’s learning goals.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Graduate students and undergraduate rising seniors, of color, from any relevant background (economics, planning, architecture, public policy, public administration, law, finance, etc.) are eligible to apply.
- Applicants must be a resident of Rhode Island. Applicants may be enrolled in a program out-of-state, but their permanent residence must be within Rhode Island.
- This is a one-time fellowship.
- Fellows must be able to work out of RIHousing’s office on Mondays and Thursdays for 12 weeks in the summer. The fellow may work remote the rest of the week. Fellows will be paid RIHousing’s standard internship rate, currently $20/hour.
The deadline to apply is May 6, 2022.
Applications will be reviewed by an internal committee. Selected applicants will be invited to interview.
Why RIHousing:
· Mission Driven Organization
· Dedicated Workforce
· Competitive salary
· Winner of “Best Places to Work” 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021
· Worksite Health Award 2013-2021
RIHousing strives to ensure that all people who live or work in Rhode Island can afford a healthy, attractive home that meets their needs. A good home provides the foundation upon which individuals and families thrive, children learn and grow, and communities prosper.
To achieve our mission, we:
· Offer fair, affordable, and innovative lending programs.
· Provide housing-related education to consumers and others.
· Promote and finance sensible development that builds healthy, vibrant communities.
· Provide housing grants and subsidies to Rhode Islanders with the greatest need.
· Team up with partners to improve everything we do.
RIHousing uses its resources to provide low-interest loans, grants, education, and assistance to help Rhode Islanders find, rent, buy, build, and keep a good home. Created by the General Assembly in 1973, RIHousing is a privately funded public purpose corporation. RIHousing requires its employees to be highly motivated and knowledgeable, have a sound understanding of the changing needs of Rhode Island's housing market, be willing to work within and toward a smoothly integrated operation, demonstrate a commitment to serve the people of Rhode Island, especially those with low and moderate incomes in need of safe and affordable homes, and possess a high level of integrity and deep respect for all Rhode Islanders, including customers, partners and fellow employees.