Apply for Casita Coalition’s Internship Program

Application Form
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About the 2026-27 Internship Program

The Casita Coalition Internship Program is designed to help train and inspire the next generation of housing leaders, policy thinkers, and implementation practitioners working to address one of the most urgent challenges facing the country: the housing shortage and affordability crisis.

Casita Coalition is a middle housing accelerator and one of the leading organizations advancing practical housing solutions in California and beyond. Our founders co-wrote the landmark 2017 California legislation that broadly legalized Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) statewide and helped spark California’s ADU boom. Today, we continue to advance legislation, implementation strategies, technical resources, and cross-sector partnerships that help turn housing policy into actual housing production.

This internship offers students and emerging professionals a front-row seat to the rapidly evolving housing movement sweeping California and the nation. Interns will gain exposure to the real-world complexities of solving the housing shortage, including the tradeoffs, implementation barriers, financing challenges, political dynamics, and systems-level coordination required to successfully deliver more homes.

The program is intentionally interdisciplinary and designed for students interested in public policy, urban planning, housing, architecture, communications, government, advocacy, and related fields. Interns will engage directly with issues such as zoning reform, ADUs, starter homes, housing finance, implementation barriers, permitting, coalition building, industrialized construction, and legislative strategy.

This is not a traditional internship centered on observation alone. Casita Coalition is focused on practical, scalable solutions that lead to tangible housing outcomes. Interns will contribute to active projects and initiatives while learning how legislation, advocacy, implementation, communications, research, and ecosystem-building work together to unlock housing production.

Interns will leave the program with:

  • A strong understanding of the housing shortage and the role middle housing plays in addressing affordability

  • Exposure to the policies, implementation tools, and cross-sector collaboration required to move projects from ideas to production

  • Hands-on experience conducting legislative analysis, policy research, research synthesis, and communications work

  • Opportunities to engage with policymakers, researchers, practitioners, advocates, philanthropic leaders, and housing experts across California and beyond

  • Greater understanding of the challenges, tradeoffs, and innovation opportunities shaping the future of housing

  • Professional mentorship, networking opportunities, and exposure to careers across the housing ecosystem

Casita Coalition believes lived experiences and diverse perspectives are essential to building effective housing solutions. California is one of the most diverse places in the world, and we believe the next generation of housing leadership should reflect the communities most impacted by the housing crisis. We strongly encourage students from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, identities, and disciplines to apply.

We are seeking interns who are intellectually curious, entrepreneurial, collaborative, eager to learn, and deeply interested in contributing to meaningful housing solutions. The strongest applicants will be excited by problem-solving, public policy, implementation, and the opportunity to help shape the future of housing in California and beyond.

Areas of Exposure and Contribution

Interns will contribute to active projects and initiatives across Casita Coalition’s policy, implementation, communications, and ecosystem-building work. Responsibilities may evolve based on organizational priorities, intern interests, and emerging opportunities in the housing landscape.

Policy, Research, and Legislative Analysis

  • Monitor and analyze legislation, regulatory reforms, and implementation efforts related to ADUs, middle housing, zoning reform, housing finance, and housing production at the local, state, and national levels

  • Conduct policy and research analysis on emerging housing trends, implementation barriers, and scalable solutions

  • Draft legislative summaries, policy memos, research briefs, support letters, and internal strategy materials

  • Identify and synthesize key housing data, research findings, and case studies to support Casita Coalition’s advocacy and educational work

  • Track major developments in the housing ecosystem and provide staff with relevant updates and analysis

Communications and Public Education

  • Support development of public-facing educational materials, newsletter content, social media messaging, and policy communications

  • Help translate complex housing and policy issues into clear, accessible, and compelling content for practitioners, policymakers, homeowners, and the broader public

  • Contribute to communications that advance practical, implementation-oriented housing solutions

Implementation and Ecosystem Building

  • Gain exposure to the real-world implementation challenges associated with housing production, including permitting, local government processes, financing barriers, and stakeholder coordination

  • Participate in conversations and initiatives focused on translating policy reforms into actual housing outcomes

  • Support convenings, working groups, webinars, and stakeholder engagement efforts involving housing leaders from across California and beyond

Convenings and Events

  • Support planning and execution of virtual and in-person events, workshops, and member convenings

  • Assist with speaker coordination, event preparation materials, presentation development, and participant communications

  • Help create thoughtful and engaging experiences that bring together policymakers, practitioners, advocates, researchers, and industry leaders

Professional Development and Mentorship

  • Participate in Casita Coalition’s monthly “Brown Bag” Speaker Series featuring leaders across housing policy, planning, advocacy, development, finance, philanthropy, communications, and government

  • Engage directly with professionals working at the forefront of the housing movement

  • Build relationships and mentorship connections across California’s housing ecosystem

Capstone Project
Interns will complete a final capstone project aligned with Casita Coalition’s mission and current housing priorities. Projects may take a variety of forms depending on organizational needs and intern interests, including research reports, policy memos, implementation resources, public education materials, communications projects, or presentations.

Capstone projects are intended to help interns deepen their expertise while contributing meaningful work to Casita Coalition’s broader mission and public education efforts.

Hours and Modality

  • Minimum of 6 hours per week, to be arranged with internship manager and leadership staff.

  • This is a remote work position. Some in-person events are possible if interns are nearby, but not required.

Who Should Apply

We are seeking intellectually curious, entrepreneurial, and mission-driven individuals who are eager to deepen their understanding of housing policy, implementation, and systems change.

Strong candidates will be excited by problem-solving, public policy, research, implementation, coalition building, and the opportunity to contribute to practical housing solutions.

Applicants may come from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds, including:

  • Public Policy

  • Urban and Regional Planning

  • Political Science

  • Architecture and Design

  • Communications

  • Public Administration

  • Economics

  • Sociology

  • Real Estate or Housing Studies

  • Related interdisciplinary fields

Ideal candidates will demonstrate:

  • Strong interest in housing policy, housing affordability, and middle housing solutions

  • Curiosity about how legislation, implementation, finance, politics, and local governance intersect to shape housing outcomes

  • Strong writing, research, and analytical skills

  • Ability to manage multiple assignments and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment

  • Willingness to learn, ask questions, seek mentorship, and engage thoughtfully with complex policy issues

  • Collaborative mindset and commitment to contributing positively to a small, mission-driven team

  • Casita Coalition strongly encourages applications from individuals with diverse lived experiences and perspectives. We believe the future of housing leadership should better reflect the communities most impacted by the housing affordability crisis.

Benefits of the Internship

  • Hands-on exposure to one of the most dynamic and rapidly evolving policy movements in California and the nation

  • Practical experience engaging with housing policy, implementation challenges, legislative strategy, public education, and ecosystem-building efforts focused on increasing housing production

  • Opportunities to contribute meaningful work products, including research synthesis, policy analysis, communications materials, implementation resources, and public-facing educational content

  • Direct exposure to housing leaders across government, advocacy, philanthropy, urban planning, development, research, and the private sector

  • Access to Casita Coalition’s “Brown Bag” Speaker Series featuring candid conversations with professionals shaping the future of housing policy and production

  • A deeper understanding of the tradeoffs, political realities, and implementation barriers involved in addressing the housing shortage

  • Professional mentorship, networking opportunities, and career exposure across the broader housing ecosystem

  • The opportunity to help shape practical solutions that move housing ideas from policy conversations to real-world implementation

Compensation

Each intern will receive a $500 learning stipend each semester. This stipend is intended to support interns’ participation in the program.

How To Apply

Please complete the application form linked below. The form will ask for basic information, a resume PDF upload, and short responses about your interests and experience. 

Application Form

Timeline

Application Deadline: Applications are due by July 27, 2026 at 11:59pm PST.

Interviews: Selected applicants will be invited to a virtual interview between August 10–14, 2026. 

Final Decisions: Notifications will be sent by August 24, 2026.

Internship Start Date: The internship will begin on September 8, 2026.


If you have any questions about the internship or the application process, please contact Adriana Bernal, Strategic Partnerships Manager, adriana@casitacoalition.org.