We are seeking an intern to work with Wake County Veterans, their families, and community members. This intern will be offered firsthand experience with veteran services, information on benefit access and qualifications, as well as professional and personal growth opportunities. Interns will assist with intake and referral paperwork, work directly with veterans and programs available in Wake County, and gain skills necessary for job searching in social work and policy professions. Through this internship, more veterans will be able to access the needed services to obtain housing, support employment, benefits, and/or educational opportunities, creating a more efficient process and increasing access to eligible clients.

Workdays/Hours: 10-20 hours/week, flexible scheduling available

Work Location: South Wilmington St. Center, 1420 S. Wilmington St. Raleigh, NC 27601

Compensation: Unpaid

Academic Credit/Oversight: Site will work to satisfy the academic needs of the student/University

Level of Education: Bachelors: Social Work, Political Science, Psychology

We are seeking an intern to work with the Wake County Housing Department’s Research, Data, and Systems Team. Through this internship, interns will develop strong data analytic skills including quality assurance, data extraction, modeling, and reporting. Interns will understand function and operations of local government and develop a network of professional contacts through community engagement and collaboration. Interns will work with the Data Team to manage and analyze Department and Grantee data, and how to apply data to affect change. We are looking for interns that learn and adjust quickly in a fast-paced environment, manage time well and take initiative. Ideal candidates can work independently and collaboratively, they are detail oriented, thorough, and communicative.

Workdays/Hours: Wednesday-Friday, 8:30 am - 5:15 pm, (24 hrs/week)

Work Location: Remote

Compensation: Unpaid

Academic Credit/Oversight: Social Work Field Placement

Level of Education: Master’s: Social Work, Public Administration

We are seeking an intern to work with the Wake County Housing’s South Wilmington St. Men’s Shelter. This intern will work with a diverse group of men experiencing homelessness and Housing Staff, supporting through one-on-one counseling interactions, group settings, and staff trainings. The intern will meet with each new guest shortly after intake to determine basic documents needed, (including ID, birth certificate, etc.). This individual will help organize the tasks of the Social Workers, the progress of guests, and create a curriculum for life-skills groups held once a week. They will have an individual case load of 2-3 consistent guests per week, supporting their needs and goals. The intern will also host three short staff trainings over two semesters on mental health related topics.

Workdays/Hours: Flexible work schedule – agreed upon mutually; primarily weekdays, at least one evening/week.

Work Location: South Wilmington St. Center, 1420 S. Wilmington St. Raleigh, NC 27601

Compensation: Unpaid

Academic Credit/Oversight: Social Work Field Placement

Level of Education: Bachelors and Masters: Social Work

We are seeking an intern to work with the Wake County Housing’s South Wilmington St. Men’s Shelter. This intern will work with a diverse group of men experiencing homelessness and Housing Staff, supporting operations, and gaining experience in the aspects of running a shelter and providing programming for guests and the community. The intern will increase the following skills: leadership, organizing, analyzing data, short and long-term programmatic planning, event planning and outreach. They will help to analyze trends and data to improve programs and outcomes, maximize the effectiveness, and the community reach of the Homeless Memorial.  

Workdays/Hours: Flexible work schedule – agreed upon mutually; primarily weekdays, at least one evening/week.

Work Location: South Wilmington St. Center, 1420 S. Wilmington St. Raleigh, NC 27601

Compensation: Unpaid

Academic Credit/Oversight: Social Work Field Placement

Level of Education: Masters: Social Work

Submit all applications through this Intern Application form.

Yes, please reach out to housing.internship@wake.gov with any questions or concerns.

Within the application, you will need to submit your professional résumé and cover letter. As an intern, you will be asked to complete and sign a contract prior to beginning your internship. You will be onboarded and treated as Wake County employees, so interns will be required to have a valid driver's license. Some programs may require a submission of an unofficial transcript or similar academic record.

Within the Housing Department, there are five divisions:

• Homeless and Prevention Services
• Permanent Housing and Supportive Services
• Veterans Services
• Equitable Housing and Community Development
• Research, Systems and Data
   

As you are filling out the application, you will be given the option to rank various internship opportunities offered within the Housing Department with what best suits your career aspirations.

The application will always be available online. Each program/supervisor will designate their time frame for review and processing each application based on number of applicants, space and capacity available, and programs offered. If you have any questions regarding the process, please reach out to housing.internship@wake.gov.

Many academic programs have a required number of hours to complete their degree; therefore, it is imperative that you specify the number of total hours of field work and supervision needed throughout the internship. You and the supervisor will sign an agreement at the beginning of the internship.

If you are not completing the internship program to meet degree requirements, you and the supervisor will designate and agree upon the total number of hours prior to the start of the internship.

This varies by student/intern and will be agreed upon prior to the start of the internship based on academic requirements, expectations and goals of the internship. As a general rule, Wake County office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:15 p.m.

Yes. The goal of Wake County’s Housing Affordability and Community Revitalization department is to provide an enriching learning experience for all interns. If the intern perceives any concerns with their supervision, training, or any other aspect of the internship experience, they may file a grievance. While the hope is that any concerns or complaints can be discussed and resolved informally, a formal mechanism is appropriate considering the power differential between interns and supervisors.

While the main goal of your internship is to develop professionally within the framework of the Housing Department, there may be opportunities for the intern cohort to visit other County sites to gain a better understanding of the ways in which local governments operate and the multiple facets of Wake County. This includes, but is not limited to, attending a Board of Commissioners meeting, Wake County Animal Services, Emergency Medical Services, Environmental Services, Firearms Safety Education Center, and the Wake County Board of Elections.