Apply for Casita Academy’s Fall 2025 Internship Program

Overview of Casita Coalition

Casita Coalition is a nonprofit organization based in California with a national reach, leading a broad multi-sector coalition to advance middle housing solutions. Casita Coalition’s founders co-wrote the 2017 law that broadly legalized Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) statewide, a first in the US, and unlocked the California ADU revolution. Since launch, Casita Coalition has driven key legislation and regulatory reforms, removed implementation barriers, and raised awareness of middle housing benefits, empowering homeowners, practitioners and policymakers in California and beyond. Learn more about our work at our website here.

Internship Program

The internship program is designed to give students interested in housing, policy work, and/or urban and regional planning an opportunity to learn more about middle housing solutions. The internship program also aims to give students an understanding of nonprofit and advocacy work, as well as programmatic educational and implementation work that contributes to housing being built. We want interns to walk away with: knowledge on middle housing advocacy and reforms, insight on how to run a nonprofit, technical expertise on effective middle housing solutions and professional development experiences.

Internship Duties and Responsibilities

Below are the internship’s core duties and responsibilities, with opportunities to take on additional tasks to accomplish project needs: 

Writing and Communications

  • Draft and edit documents such as legislative support letters, policy and legislative memos, messaging frameworks, and network communications sharing Casita Coalition updates.

  • Support with development of social media and newsletter copy for Casita Coalition’s social channels and e-blasts.

  • Draft speeches, presentations, remarks, and talking points with support from Strategic Partnerships Manager for the CEO and other members of Casita Coalition’s team.

Public Policy

  • Track and monitor legislative and regulatory reform related to ADUs and middle housing at the local, state, and national levels. 

  • Monitor California and national news articles related to middle housing, ADUs, and infill development; share with the team relevant policy developments in the middle housing space. 

  • Track events, webinars, and convenings related to middle housing.

 Research and Analysis

  • Identify and analyze data on middle housing, update key statistics, and summarize reports. 

  • Conduct research as assigned to identify emerging trends, barriers, solutions, and innovations in the middle housing space.

  • Provide timely and relevant information, input, and recommendations to the team to take advantage of opportunities that advance Casita Coalition’s mission.

Event Planning and Support

  • Assist in the planning and coordination of virtual and in-person events, including workshops, webinars, and coalition meetings.

  • Support event logistics such as scheduling, preparing agendas, confirming speakers, and managing RSVPs.

  • Draft and distribute promotional materials, event invitations, and follow-up communications to participants.

  • Support with outreach to current and potential enrollees of Casita Academy.

Internship Capstone Project

  • Complete a capstone project that aligns with Casita Coalition’s mission to expand access to middle housing, such as a policy memo, policy handout, or implementation guidance document.

  • Present the final capstone deliverable to the Casita Coalition team, showcasing the skills and knowledge gained during the program. Capstone deliverables may be published or shared publicly to inform our audience and strengthen the Casita Coalition’s resource library.

Professional Development

  • Participate in monthly 1-hour “Brown Bag” meetings, where Casita Coalition invites guest speakers from the fields of housing, urban planning, and public policy to delve into their current role/position, share their journey to reach that position, share expertise in their specific field, and offer insights, skill-building, and advice to interns. 

  • Interns will research the speakers and prepare questions for the speaker, engaging in important professional development and mentorship.

Hours and Modality

  • Minimum of 8 hours per week, to be arranged with internship manager and leadership staff.

  • This is a remote work position. Some in-person events are possible, and encouraged, if interns are nearby.

Qualifications/Who Should Apply

  • Current undergraduate or graduate student, or recent graduate, with a focus in Public Policy, Urban and Regional Planning, Political Science, Architecture, Communications, or a related field.

  • Strong interest in deepening understanding of housing policy and planning, including zoning reform, housing finance, and the technical aspects of development.

  • Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively and responsively in an environment of evolving and emerging priorities.

  • Collaborative team member and supportive colleague who willingly assists others as needed.

  • Excellent writing and research skills.

  • Experience conducting research or preparing written materials for a class project, policy brief, or similar assignment.

  • Commitment to Casita Coalition’s mission to expand access to middle housing for all communities.

Benefits of the Internship

  • Gain hands-on experience in housing policy, land use, and planning through meaningful contributions to Casita Coalition’s advocacy, communications, and events.

  • Interns will have the chance to publish a written piece, such as a blog post or policy handout, on Casita Coalition’s website and/or social media, contributing to our public education efforts.

  • Attend housing meetings and webinars, with opportunity to network with experts in housing, urban and regional planning, and public policy across California and beyond.

  • Participate in our monthly “Brown Bag” Speaker Series, featuring leaders in the field who share insights about their career paths, current work, and practical advice. Interns are encouraged to engage with speakers through research and Q&A.

  • Upon successful completion of the internship and based on performance, Casita Coalition is committed to providing recommendation letters and serving as a reference to support academic, professional, and career opportunities.

Compensation

Each intern will receive a stipend. This stipend is intended to support interns’ participation in the program and help offset the costs of their time and engagement.

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. 

Timeline

Application Deadline: Applications are due by August 17, 2025 at 11:59 PST.

Interviews: Selected applicants will be invited to a virtual interview between August 20–22, 2025.

Final Decisions: Notifications will be sent by August 27, 2025.

Internship Start Date: The internship will begin on September 1, 2025.


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