Davidson Housing Coalition

Opportunities

Position: Strategic Research Intern

Position Description: The Davidson Housing Coalition (DHC) is seeking an analytical and visually creative Strategic Research Intern. DHC currently manages 60 affordable rental units and 14 land-lease, owner-occupied homes in Davidson. The primary goal of this internship is to research, analyze, and draft a high-impact executive presentation, mapping out options for DHC’s long-term governance structure, shared equity models, and asset protection exit strategies. The focus of this research will be on best practice models for community land trusts and wealth-building programs for residents of affordable housing. Students who are interested in public policy, social justice, nonprofit leadership, and public interest law are ideal candidates for this internship. 

Key Responsibilities / Scope of Work You will work closely with DHC’s leadership team and volunteers to research and build a comprehensive presentation structured into four main phases: 

• Phase 1: Current State Analysis

  • Evaluate and document relevant descriptive information for DHC’s 60 rental units (The Bungalows, Creekside Corner, and The Cottages) and 14 land-lease properties.

  • Synthesize information about existing ownership structures, current legal documents and relevant language, and annual report data. 

• Phase 2: Issue Resolution Framework

  • Evaluate economic mobility models that could be offered to long-term renters as well as existing shared-equity arrangements with homeowners with current best practice models.

  • Examine risks regarding organizational dissolution and legal protections for residents. 

• Phase 3: Strategic Recommendations & Case Studies 

  • Conduct deep-dive research into successful models like the Burlington Community Land Trust (Vermont) and resources from the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. 

  • Analyze local regional comps (e.g., West Charlotte CLT). 

  • Map out pros, cons, and governance implications of shifting to a formal CLT or Co-op model.

  • Assess viable partnerships for adopting other models. 

• Phase 4: Draft Implementation Plan

  • Build a timeline showing operational transitions from the current state to the recommended future state.

  • Outline immediate next steps, including legal needs and action items. 

Qualifications & Skills

• Advanced PowerPoint/Keynote skills: Ability to design slide layout, data visualization, and reflect complex legal/structural concepts in visual models. 

• Strong Research & Synthesis: Ability to digest material from think tanks (e.g., Lincoln Institute) and extract actionable steps. 

• Analytical Mindset: Interested in public policy, urban planning, real estate finance, law, or business administration. 

• Detail-Oriented: Focus on factual accuracy and clear organization. 

Position Details 

• Duration: 26-27 academic year 

• Time Demands: Flexible, but ideally 8-10 hours per week, including an on-site weekly meeting with leadership team 

• Location: Jay Hurt Hub for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Davidson (DHC maintains two dedicated desks at The Hub. Meetings will take place at The Hub, and while you may conduct some of your work remotely, we encourage you to schedule most of your work time during business hours at The Hub.) 

Interested? Contact Connie Wessner, DHC Executive Director by email cwessner@davidsonhousing.org.