Smart Growth America’s Housing & Development (HAD) team is looking for a Fall 2026 intern to support Congressional advocacy efforts to increase housing supply and promote affordability.

Do you have a passion for housing and land use policy and urban planning? Are you eager to be a part of a team effort that pushes for federal policy wins that make communities better?

Smart Growth America is seeking a skilled and enthusiastic individual to help support our advocacy and research work. Applicants should demonstrate an understanding of land use and housing policy and be open to developing their research and communications skills.

This internship offers hands-on exposure to: real-world zoning reform and implementation challenges; policy research and memo drafting for practitioner audiences; technical assistance for community-based organizations and local governments; coalition-building and partner engagement processes; and the intersection of land use, housing supply, and equitable development. The intern will gain a practical understanding of how housing and zoning policy gets enacted at the federal level and implemented in communities nationwide.