Housing Advocacy Communications Intern

The Badger State Housing Alliance is a new initiative of the Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development focused on advancing affordable housing interests and policy in Wisconsin. BSHA is a big-tent housing collective that works to ensure the voice of those in need are heard during the state's debate about how to best deliver a critical need in an affordable manner. The Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development sponsors the Alliance and serves as the coordinating backbone for the effort. WPHD was founded in 1985 by Governor Tony Earl with a mission of ensuring affordable housing resources are available throughout Wisconsin.

Organization: Badger State Housing Alliance an initiative of the Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development
Location: Madison, Wisconsin (hybrid)
Schedule: Part-time, up to 15 hours per week
Term: Six or Twelve month internship beginning in Fall 2026
Stipend: $15 per hour paid as a one-time stipend upon completion

Are you passionate about social justice, digital media, and creating positive change in your community?

The Wisconsin Partnership for Housing Development is seeking a creative and motivated Communications Intern to support statewide housing advocacy efforts through the Badger State Housing Alliance. You’ll use storytelling, social media, and community engagement to raise awareness of affordable housing, homelessness, and policy solutions across Wisconsin. You will help develop communications strategy, social media resources, and create and executive a plan to engage and inform Wisconsin residents on housing, the housing crisis, and affordable housing.

This opportunity is ideal for an upper class undergraduate or graduate student interested in communications, journalism, public policy, advocacy, marketing, or a related field. You’ll gain hands-on experience while helping elevate diverse voices and inspire more people, especially younger and historically underserved communities, to participate in housing advocacy.

What You’ll Do

• Create and curate engaging content for Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Bluesky, LinkedIn, and other digital platforms.
• Develop creative strategies to engage students and younger audiences in housing advocacy.
• Help make advocacy campaigns accessible and relevant to historically underserved communities.
• Design graphics, short-form videos, and other multimedia content that explains housing issues and shares personal stories.
• Contribute to op-eds, blog posts, social media threads, and other written materials that shape Wisconsin’s housing conversation.
• Collaborate with grassroots organizations, student groups, community partners, and emerging advocates to amplify diverse perspectives.
• Track digital engagement and use performance data to recommend ways to improve content reach and impact.
• Work closely with the Policy & Data Intern to translate research and policy information into compelling public-facing content.

What We’re Looking For

You may be a strong fit if you:

• Care about housing equity, social justice, community engagement, or public policy.
• Communicate clearly and enjoy telling meaningful stories.
• Are familiar with major social media platforms and interested in emerging digital trends.
• Have experience with—or are eager to strengthen your skills in—graphic design and video-editing tools such as Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, or CapCut.
• Are excited to develop creative digital campaigns for younger and diverse audiences.
• Can manage assignments independently while contributing to a collaborative team.

Previous experience in communications, journalism, advocacy, marketing, or social media is helpful, but it is not required. We encourage applicants with relevant coursework, volunteer experience, student leadership, personal projects, or community involvement to apply.

What You’ll Gain

• Paid, hands-on experience in advocacy communications and digital organizing.
• The opportunity to contribute to meaningful housing policy change in Wisconsin.
• Mentorship from experienced housing and advocacy professionals.
• Connections with community leaders, policy professionals, and housing advocates.
• Portfolio-ready work in digital content, campaign strategy, and public-interest communications.
• Opportunities to publish bylined op-eds and contribute to statewide public discourse.

If you’re ready to combine creativity, communication, and community impact, we encourage you to apply.

Please use the Application URL to apply for this internship. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.