TITLE: Supportive Housing Intern -UNPAID
LOCATION: IRC Denver Office and in the Community
COMMITMENT: 15-20 hours per week
START DATE: September 2025
BACKGROUND: The InternationalRescue Committee (IRC) helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shatteredby conflict and disaster to survive, recover, and gain control of their future.Founded in 1933, the IRC is at work today in more than 40 countries and in 24 U.S.cities. The IRC’s U.S. Programs (USP) department creates opportunities forrefugees and other vulnerable migrants to survive and thrive in America. USPserves more than 40,000 individuals each year, including thousands of newlyarrived refugees, through a diverse portfolio of programs aimed at achievingoutcomes in five impact areas: Health, Safety, Economic Wellbeing, Education,and Power.
The IRC works with government bodies, civilsociety actors and local volunteers to help refugees, asylees and those withSpecial Immigrant Visas translate their past experiences into assets that arevaluable to their new communities. In Denver and other offices across thecountry, the IRC helps refugees and asylees to rebuild their lives throughservices and programs that assist with initial resettlement through longer-termintegration. Presently, these services are case management, employmentservices, psychosocial support, family stabilization, health coordination,health insurance literacy, family reunification and programs for children andyouth. The Denver office also has a legal services program to provide pro bonolegal representation to survivors of torture, as well as direct legal servicesfor family-based immigration.
INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW: The Supportive Housing Program Intern will assist in implementingsuccessful programming in IRC’s Supportive Housing community for refugees. Thisproject addresses housing insecurity for refugee households with multipleintersecting vulnerabilities through a combination of affordable housing andwraparound services for participants. The Supportive Housing Intern will workdirectly with refugee clients, IRC staff, volunteers, and community partners topromote effective supportive services for clients. Their work will includedirect service with a refugee population and development of programs thatsupport the wellbeing and integration of participants. The intern may alsoassist with projects that support housing stability for at-risk refugee clientsresiding outside the supportive housing program.
COMMITMENT:
Length of Service: 3-4 months. 1-semester minimum, full academic year available.
Compensation: This is an unpaid internship.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Conduct home visits with individual clients with access to community-based resources that support their personal priorities and needs.
Maintain a small case load to enhance IRC casework support for clients with complex barriers as they set goals and work toward self-sufficient household management.
Participate in services that increase affordable housing access, resource navigation, and housing education for refugee clients within and outside of the Supportive Housing program.
Document all services provided to clients and other administrative tasks.
Collect data and participant feedback in accordance with program evaluation requirements.
Develop resources and support partnerships and programs for supportive housing participants.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Develop the skills of listening for understanding and motivational interviewing.
Gain experience working with and coaching a diverse refugee population.
Learn about challenges navigating housing and accessing resources in Denver for refugee populations.
Interns will acquire detailed knowledge about supportive housing for a refugee population, providing resettlement and integration services in a rapidly changing time, and public benefits available for refugees and asylees.
Gain experience case noting using Efforts to Outcome (ETO) and Colorado Homeless Management Information System (HMIS)
Organized and detail-oriented with strong interpersonal communication skills.
Capacity to respond to adversity with empathy, compassion, and a solution-oriented mindset.
Reliable vehicle, driver’s license, and insurance.
Willingness to transport clients in personal vehicle.
Proficient in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and Excel.
Ability to work independently and maintain responsibility for multiple tasks.
Commitment to promoting participation, self-reliance, sustainability, equity and human dignity.
Standard of Professional Conduct:The IRC and the IRC workers must adhere to the values and principles outlined in the IRC Way – our Code of Conduct. These are Integrity, Service, Accountability, and Equality.