Housing Stories & Community Connections - Summer Intern

To be considered for this opportunity, please apply directly on our website. If you apply only on Handshake, your application will NOT be considered.

The Summer Housing Stories Intern will support the City of Boise’s housing priorities by collecting, documenting, and producing local housing stories that reflect the lived experiences of Boise residents. The intern will focus on  highlighting the city’s broad approach to housing affordability, including how housing intersects with other city priorities such as climate resilience, transportation, equity, economic opportunity, and community health.

Over a three-month period, the intern will independently gather stories from community members, stakeholders, and partners, using a variety of engagement and storytelling methods. These stories will help inform internal understanding, cross-departmental collaboration, and public-facing narratives around housing challenges and solutions in Boise.

The intern will report to the Communications Sr. Manager in the Office of Community Engagement for guidance, training, and support on outreach, equity-centered engagement, and storytelling best practices. This position will also work closely with the Mayor’s Housing Advisor and City Housing Team to highlight the City’s Housing Strategy.  

This will be a temporary 19/hour per week job with flexible hours - some weeks can be more than 19 hours - Tentative start date is the week of May 18th, running through mid-August. This will be in-person in Boise, ID.

Essential Functions

Scope of Work
1. Story Collection + Community Engagement

• Independently identify and collect housing-related stories from Boise residents, service providers, and community partners as part of the city’s housing communication strategy. 
• Engage with individuals experiencing a range of housing situations (renters, homeowners, people experiencing housing instability, climate-impacted households)
• Conduct interviews using trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and ethical storytelling practices
• Coordinate outreach efforts with the Community Engagement Team to ensure inclusive and appropriate engagement
• Obtain consent and follow city guidelines for story use and documentation

2. Housing + Cross-Priority Focus Areas

The intern will intentionally explore how housing connects to other city priorities, including but not limited to:

• Climate + Sustainability (energy costs, heat/cooling, resilience, displacement, green housing)
• Transportation + Access (commute times, transit, walkability, transportation costs)
• Equity + Inclusion (historically marginalized communities, accessibility, affordability)
• Economic Stability (cost burden, job access)
• Health + Well-Being (housing quality, environmental conditions, stability)

3. Documentation + Synthesis

• Compile collected stories into organized summaries, themes, and key insights
• Develop short written narratives, story profiles, or anonymized case examples as appropriate
• Identify recurring themes and connections across stories
• Share findings through regular check-ins with supervisor
• Produce a final summary report or presentation highlighting key themes, insights, and recommendations

4. Collaboration + Support

• Meet regularly with the supervisor for direction, feedback, and alignment with Mayor’s Office priorities
• Collaborate with the Community Engagement Team for outreach strategies, interview techniques, and community connections
• Coordinate with other city departments or partners as needed to support story collection

Expected Deliverables (3-Month Term)

• A collection of documented housing stories (written summaries, interview notes, or short narratives
• A thematic analysis outlining how housing intersects with other city priorities
• A final summary report or presentation suitable for internal use and potential public storytelling
• Recommendations for how stories could be used to inform policy, engagement, or communications
• A list of contacts and information for future follow up interviews, questions, etc. (*collect release forms as needed)

Requirements

To be eligible for the City of Boise Internship Program, applicants must be:

• Undergraduate or graduate students with a strong academic record or graduated in the last 12 months from an accredited university
• Majoring in accounting, finance, business administration, public administration, or a related field
• Have a strong interest in accounting, treasury, business operations, or strategic planning
• Possess excellent written and verbal communication skills for creating documentation and internal guidance
• Be able to work up to 19 hours per week (flexible)
• Be able to commit to the entire internship program from May through August 2026

Special Requirements
Valid state-issued driver’s license.

Applicants must be able to pass:

City of Boise background check processes which includes a criminal history check and reference checks in accordance with the City of Boise Hiring Process Regulation

Driving Record Check

Working Conditions

The physical effort characteristics and working environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.