Affordable Housing & Community Development Internship (BUILD CO Scholars)

BUILD CO Scholars Summer Internship with Housing Colorado

Note: This internship is hybrid and can be located anywhere in Colorado as we have patterns all across the state!

About the Internship

The Building Up Innovative Local Development (BUILD CO Scholars) 2026 Internship offers a unique opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to engage in meaningful, place-based work. Interns work at the intersection of housing, land use, and community development, with responsibilities spanning research, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communication across a broader housing policy consortium.

Interns will support initiatives related to regional housing strategies, zoning, community engagement, and the advancement of tools like the Colorado Zoning Atlas and Colorado Housing Consortium. Through cross-sector collaboration involving public officials, nonprofit and business leaders, and planning professionals, interns will help analyze challenges, gather community insights, and inform policy conversations on housing access and affordability.

Each intern will represent a region of the state based on local needs and project priorities, contributing both independently and as part of a statewide cohort. This program is designed to build professional experience, deepen policy understanding, and provide students with a practical foundation in the fields of public policy, community development, planning, and housing advocacy.

This program is run by Housing Colorado and is supported and guided by a collection of foundations and leaders in Colorado committed to affordable housing.

Key Responsibilities

Interns will contribute to regional and statewide efforts related to housing policy and solutions by:

• Supporting research and outreach around housing policy, zoning reform, and land use.
• Engaging with local government and nonprofit stakeholders to understand current challenges and opportunities.
• Helping to develop communication tools, AI software, presentations, upcoming community events and/or training programs for use by community leaders and municipal staff.
• Collecting and analyzing data through surveys, interviews, or case study research.
• Contributing to written reports, public-facing materials, and policy recommendations.
• Collaborating with fellow interns across regions to share findings and present collective insights.
• Salary: $20 an hour for 20 hours of work each week.

See our annual report here. Note: Internship formally called CYEC. This is a hybrid internship with a preference for those that can be physically located anywhere within the State of Colorado for 8 weeks during the summer of 2026. Please feel free to contact us for more information or apply here.

BUILD CO Scholars offers a flexible, hybrid internship experience designed to support students across Colorado. Interns can work from wherever they are located, with schedules that accommodate academic and personal commitments. The program provides meaningful exposure to affordable housing and community development work, including opportunities to collaborate with nonprofit leaders, public officials, and community-based organizations. Interns participate in cohort-based learning, mentorship, and professional development sessions while contributing to real projects that influence local and statewide housing efforts. This structure allows participants to gain hands-on experience, build professional networks, and engage directly with community leaders while remaining rooted in their own regions.