Prime the next generation of diverse talent
Affordable housing organizations want and need to attract and grow new, diverse talent. Many students are unaware of rewarding career opportunities in the field, including those with lived experience.
The Affordable Housing Bridge Program connects diverse college students to nonprofit and for-profit affordable housing leaders and practitioners across the country. It exposes participants to multiple career pathways in the industry and provides students with a scholarship and an opportunity to earn college credit.
The aim is to build a foundation that will support diverse college students and lead to meaningful internship, employment, and mentor opportunities across the sector.
“To ensure our sector has a broader array of talent in the future – particularly more people of color with relevant lived experience, and with the training and skills needed to excel in the field – this collaboration with Project Destined is both the right thing to do and the right way to do it”
Patricia Belden EVP Real Estate Development, The Community Builders
The program is a venture between Housing Partnership Network and Project Destined, another national nonprofit which has deep experience partnering with schools, corporations, and other nonprofits to train underrepresented college students in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and real estate.
How does it work?
The 7-week program is conducted three times per year, during the summer, fall, and winter semesters. It is offered exclusively to junior and senior diverse college students from over 350+ universities who have already received 45+ hours of instruction on real estate. In addition to lectures and instruction provided by Project Destined, it includes virtual courses with weekly speakers from the affordable housing industry, and a site visit to the sponsoring organizations’ affordable housing communities.
Project Destined students join Boston-based sponsor organizations for a site visit
Who can be a sponsor? What are the benefits?
Any nonprofit or for-profit affordable housing organization can be a sponsor of students to participate. Sponsoring organizations have the benefit of recruiting for open positions or for internship opportunities by accessing Project Destined’s database of 5000+ diverse candidates who are interested in our work and have received training in real estate and affordable housing. Additionally, you would have the opportunity to host a one-day site visit for the students you sponsor so they may experience some of your work, and learn more about your organization.
Students and HPN staff visiting a Rollins Street development
This is an excellent opportunity to foster the next generation of affordable housing professionals. To learn more, email HPN's Human Resources team for more details.
Program Highlights
