Internship Location: Madison WI
Organization Type: Nonprofit
Policy Areas: Affordable housing policy
During my internship at Common Wealth Development in Madison, WI, I worked as a Community Development Specialist on the housing team. My responsibilities included managing and verifying applications for HOME and LIHTC affordable housing programs, ensuring compliance with federal requirements, and providing housing support to families. The role was administratively demanding and involved conducting detailed verifications, including background checks, credit reports, landlord references, and income and asset verifications. One significant improvement I implemented was optimizing the verification process. I discovered that response times for asset verification varied significantly between local and regional/state banking branches. Local branches, dealing with fewer requests and operating within the same community, responded much faster than their regional counterparts. By identifying local contacts for the housing team, I was able to streamline the process. This experience enhanced my understanding of housing policy and its practical applications. One important lesson I learned is the value of building rapport with tenants to ensure they feel recognized and supported. In a program where housing is a vital necessity, the presence of empathetic and compassionate individuals is essential.