Community Planning Intern

Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society

2025 Community Planning Internship Program


ABOUT ENTRE NOUS FEMMES HOUSING SOCIETY


Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society (ENFHS) is a charitable, not-for-profit housing organization that began almost 40 years ago by three single mothers who wanted to create more affordable housing for families like theirs. As one of Canada’s first women-led charitable housing organizations, we are committed to enhancing people’s lives, particularly the lives of women, single-parent families, and other equity-deserving groups, by creating communities that provide affordable, safe, and secure housing.


We currently serve over 1200 low-income women, gender-diverse groups, children, single-parent families, seniors, people with disabilities, and Indigenous and other equity-deserving groups in over 500 affordable rental homes across thirteen properties in Burnaby, New Westminster, North Vancouver, Vancouver, and Surrey.


Over the next five years, we plan to double the number of homes and people we serve. We are working on several development projects and partnering with various government, non-profit and consultant teams to develop more affordable housing in the region. We are also exploring innovative ways to fund and finance affordable housing and provide better connections and support to residents.


This internship opportunity will prioritize applicants from diverse backgrounds, especially from equity-deserving groups. One (1) internship position is available from April to August, and the role will be hybrid, with remote and in-person work in Vancouver.


This internship opportunity enables post-secondary students to gain valuable hands-on experience in the non-profit affordable housing sector and planning, development, housing policy and engagement. Project assignments will allow the intern to develop a broad range of skills and knowledge to supplement their academic experience. The internship is an excellent opportunity to be exposed to “real world” planning problems in developing affordable housing and to understand the perspectives and operations of the non-profit housing sector. The experience will help build skills and knowledge transferable to the intern’s chosen career path, whether in the public, private or non-profit sectors.


Interns will work with the Development Coordinator and be mentored by the CEO, a certified professional planner with over twenty years of experience in planning, engagement, public and non-profit sectors, and funding and financing. The intern will also work directly with diverse consultants, non-profit and private sector partners, funders, investors, and community members. They will also be invited to participate in team gatherings and site visits.


The internship will provide training on the development process, project management, non-profit decision-making, and board governance. The intern will also be offered an opportunity to take training from the BC Non-Profit Housing Association (BCNPHA) and attend the BCNPHA RENT Vancouver conference to further their understanding of the affordable housing sector.


Examples of project assignments include:

Implementing the ENFHS Strategic Real Estate Portfolio Plan
Affordable Housing Social Finance Community Bond Project
Supporting the current affordable housing development projects
Supporting the response to affordable housing Requests for Proposals
Supporting the Community Engagement team on resident and stakeholder engagement events
Other administrative duties as required

We are open to working with the intern to determine the projects and activities that best fit their interests and learning objectives.


REQUIREMENTS & REMUNERATION


To apply to the internship program, applicants must meet the following requirements:


Students must be pursuing a post-secondary education. This position suits students in a Master's or post-graduate program or their final year of undergraduate studies. Students pursuing a certificate or diploma program are also encouraged to apply.
Be fully vaccinated against COVID-1+ and flu before commencing work.
Complete a successful Criminal Records Check for those working with vulnerable children and seniors. ENFHS will reimburse the applicant.

The internship is partly funded by the Government of Canada’s Canada Summer Jobs program, and participants must also meet the following requirements:


Be between 15 and 30 years of age or younger at the start of their internship.
Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or person to whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act for the duration of the employment.
Have a valid Social Insurance Number at the start of employment and be legally entitled to work in Canada in accordance with relevant provincial or territorial legislation and regulations.

ENFHS supports and prioritizes gender equity and the development of leaders from equity-deserving groups and those with lived experience. We encourage women, gender-diverse groups, Indigenous people, people of colour, and those with lived experience in social or co-op housing to apply.


ENFHS is a Living Wage Employer, and for 2025, the remuneration for this position is $27.05 per hour for up to 35 hours per week. The internship will start on May 01, 2025, and end on August 2+, 2025, for 17 weeks. The contract may be extended at the discretion of ENFHS.


Work will occur remotely and in person at least three days a week from ENFHS’s head office in Vancouver. The intern can also work in person at ENFHS’s head office for additional days or the entire internship duration. Some travel to sites in Metro Vancouver may be required.