VHFA hires interns for its Housing Fellow Program on an ongoing basis, with potential starts in the fall, spring, or summer semesters. Candidates must be graduate students enrolled at an accredited program, with an interest in learning more about affordable housing careers. The program provides students with the opportunity to relate knowledge gained in the classroom to practical, real-world settings. Weekly projects are tailored to improving and expanding information available to decision makers about Vermont housing markets and opportunities. Fellows will be assigned projects that entail conducting housing research and summarizing results in articles for publication. The Fellow may also be asked to support public relations and housing program data projects, such as web site content development and data entry regarding building characteristics and rent levels. The Fellow will be paid at a rate of $15/hour, for 10-25 hours per week, depending on his or her schedule. One fellowship will generally be offered at a time, for a 12-week period, for a total of three per year. VHFA is intentionally looking to increase its diversity of thought and experience. Candidates of color, those from outside Vermont, and historically underserved populations who are interested in affordable housing in a rural state like Vermont are encouraged to apply. Please contact VHFA’s Research & Communications Coordinator, Mia Watson (mwatson@vhfa.org), for more information or to apply. Internship course credits may be available through your own university or through University of Vermont’s Public Administration program. For information about University of Vermont credits, please contact Julie Starr at jstarr2@uvm.edu.

https://www.vhfa.org/about/housing-fellow-program

The Vermont Department of Mental Health (DMH) resides under the Agency of Human Services (AHS) and has the same critical mission in mind: to improve the conditions and well-being of Vermonters and protect those who cannot protect themselves. The individuals and families that the Department of Mental Health (DMH) supports in Vermont’s communities want the same things we all want: safe homes, close friends, loving relationships, good health, and something meaningful to do each day. Our job is to help them succeed.

The team at DMH is always striving to maintain the current level of services available in the system of care for Vermonters while continuing to seek opportunities that expand access to mental health services. The goal is to improve the consumer experience by increasing availability, reducing wait times, and reducing barriers to allow Vermonters and their families to receive the most appropriate care when and where they need it.

DMH is seeking a legislative intern for a paid 3-credit internship for an average of 12 hours per week (200 hours per semester). The intern would report to the DMH Director of Policy. Ideally, the internship would be staffed by students pursuing a master’s degree in Public Administration.

The legislative position would include reading, analyzing, and summarizing legislation and mental health policy. The intern will have opportunities to network and build relationships with the legislators, state leadership, community partners, the media, and Vermont citizens.

DMH operates on a hybrid work schedule that can be flexible to promote work-school-life balance and allow for remote options; however, candidates will be greatly encouraged to join the DMH team at the Vermont State House to be close to the energy and opportunities of this work.  This internship is only available during the Spring semester (Jan - May) to coincide with the Vermont Legislative session.

Please submit a resume and cover letter to Nicole DiStasio, Director of Policy at the VT Department of Mental Health, at nicole.distasio@vermont.gov. 

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has a need for a Legislative and Communications Intern during the spring semester, January – May 2024. The intern will report to the Chief of Staff of the AGO. This is a 3-credit internship, meaning the intern will spend an average of 12 hours/week (200 hours/semester) on this internship. Ideally, the intern would be currently pursuing a master’s degree in Public Administration or Community Development and Applied Economics.

The work of the intern will fall into two areas: legislative and communications. The legislative work will include such activities as monitoring legislative committee meetings at the State House, researching bills, assisting with preparing testimony for legislative hearings, and tracking bills supported by the AGO. The AGO is asked to weigh in on a variety of bills. However, the majority of the intern’s work will be focused on bills in the areas of environmental, criminal/community justice, and consumer.

The intern’s communications work would include such activities as revising template press releases, organizing and attending press conferences, and drafting social media posts.

Interested applicants should email their resume, cover letter, and writing sample to Lauren Jandl, Chief of Staff, at Lauren.Jandl@vermont.gov.

Common Good Vermont, a statewide program of United Way Northwest Vermont, is the go-to resource for nonprofit leaders to share resources, gain skills, and build partnerships. We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic intern to join our team and provide support for our range of programs and services. This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in nonprofit policy work, data, and professional development while making a meaningful impact on Vermont’s nonprofit community. Focus areas are listed below and will be tailored to the intern’s areas of interest and expertise.
Focus Areas:

Policy & Advocacy
•         Assist with CGVT’s policy and advocacy efforts during the legislative session (remotely and at the State House)
•         Monitor and report on key issues and legislation relevant to our mission
•         Participate in state and national policy calls 
•         Support with stakeholder outreach and engagement
•         Write summaries and blog posts on policy issues to inform and engage stakeholders

Data
•         Support the development of the 2024 Nonprofit Wages & Benefits survey
•         Assist in creating and implementing survey outreach strategies to target audiences
•         Conduct research on related topics to provide valuable insights for outreach, opinion pieces, talking points, etc.
•         Draft sector guidance and updates based on research findings and best practices
•         Organize training sessions to educate Vermont’s nonprofit organizations on workforce trends

Learning & Education
•         Support implementation and administration of nonprofit certificate programs for nonprofit professionals
•         Organize new webinars for nonprofit professionals 
•         Learn more about nonprofit professional development learning and education programs 
•         Research ideas to grow Common Good Vermont’s educational offerings

Requirements:
•         Currently enrolled in a relevant degree program (e.g., public policy, political science, business/public administration, psychology, data analytics, etc.) or recently graduated
•         Excitement for Vermont’s nonprofits and mission-driven work
•         Strong interest in nonprofit policy and advocacy work
•         Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
•         Active knowledge of Zoom and other virtual learning tools 
•         Strong written and verbal communication skills
•         Ability to work independently and as part of a team
•         Reliable and detail-oriented
•         Previous experience in policy research, advocacy, or data analysis is a plus

Duration and Compensation:
•         Academic credit provided if enrolled in an applicable course or program
•         Internship stipend of $250/month provided
•         Continued professional development in the areas of nonprofit management and advocacy
•         Coaching and mentor opportunities with various UWNWVT staff
•         Exposure to Vermont’s legislators and nonprofit organizations across the state
•         Hands-on learning in fields including advocacy, data, event planning, facilitation, communication, and outreach
•         Networking with other interns in the cohort and tailored shared learning

This position will run January – May during the spring semester. School breaks will be accommodated. The intern will work approximately 8-10 hours per week, with flexibility depending on credit requirements. This internship will be remote and in-person (South Burlington and Montpelier).

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter explaining your interest in the internship to dillon@unitedwaynwvt.org. We will review applications on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Spring 2024 internship, 10-20 hours/week, paid.  The focus will be on supporting grant development and implementation for community flood reduction projects following the July flooding. Graduate student or advanced undergraduates welcome to apply. Send a resume and cover letter to Stephanie Smith at Stephanie.A.Smith@vermont.gov.

About The Competition
Where we live matters. Our neighborhoods fundamentally affect our access to economic opportunity, education, housing, open space and community amenities, and health outcomes. Policymakers and municipalities are focusing on these interconnections between housing, economic opportunity, and health care, prioritizing investment in distressed and at-risk neighborhoods, and looking for ways to preserve and revitalize our neighborhoods to remain vibrant, accessible, diverse, and livable.

The Affordable Housing Development Competition, sponsored by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, is designed to focus a new generation of thinkers on these important issues. By matching graduate students with professionals, the competition provides the opportunity to combine classroom experience with real-world practice in affordable housing development. The competition integrates a wide range of academic subjects and innovative ideas to spark new interest in the housing issues affecting New England. Students learn the multilevel process of design and production and the value of partnering with housing organizations to address the need for affordable housing.

Prizes
$10,000 First Place
$7,000 Second Place
$4,000 Third Place

The Process
- Students and development sponsors come together for a series of sessions that describe the logistics of the competition and assist with team formation.
- After being paired with their developers, the student teams have seven and a half weeks (or almost two months) to produce an affordable housing plan. Each team of students, faculty, and sponsors is responsible for creating a working timeline. A commitment of about 15 hours per week is expected, and course credit may be granted, depending on school policies. Each team will receive a stipend of $300 for expenses related to the competition.

Academic Credit
Participants may receive academic credit for the competition, depending on their school’s policy. Some students participate in lieu of a final paper or thesis project.

The three winning proposals from 2023 are here: AHDC 2023 Winning Proposals

If interested, please contact Jack Newton with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston: jack.newton@fhlbboston.com.