• IHDA Internship Program

Intern With Impact

If you’re passionate about creating healthy communities and ensuring that all Illinois residents have a safe and affordable place to call home, the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) could be the perfect place to start your career journey.

At IHDA we are passionate about fostering an inclusive environment where students can explore and deepen their understanding of career opportunities in the affordable housing industry while connecting with our mission to create and preserve affordable housing across the state.

The IHDA Internship Program is thoughtfully designed to provide meaningful professional development and hands-on experience aligned with each student’s academic background and career goals. In addition to contributing to the important work of IHDA, interns participate in our Summer Speaker Series, where they gain insight into the inner workings of various departments and how each contributes to advancing affordable housing across Illinois. The program also includes structured outings and social activities that foster connection, collaboration, and community among the intern cohort.

The deadline to apply for IHDA’s 2026 Summer Internships is Friday, January 30.

Who We’re Looking For

IHDA typically seeks undergraduate and graduate students majoring in fields such as:

  • Finance / Accounting
  • Law
  • Urban Planning
  • Sociology
  • Geography
  • Human Resources
  • Political Science

Program Details and Requirements

  • Internship is a full-time, paid, 10-week program from June to August
  • Internship is located in downtown Chicago
  • Must be enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at the time of application.

If you’re a student eager to apply your studies to real-world challenges that make a difference, we encourage you to apply. For questions or more information, contact IHDA’s Human Resources Business Partner, Samarra Exum, at SExum@ihda.org.

2026 IHDA Internship Program Positions

Accounting

Asset Management

Finance

Community Affairs

Information Technology

Internal Audit

Legal

Multifamily

Strategic Response

My biggest takeaway of being at IHDA is finding a company that values individuals and has work life balance. It’s one thing to say it…but it’s another thing to be immersed in a company that practices it.

Coming here to Chicago and living the work life has been very eye opening and has been very meaningful… You realize that this could be your life if you pursue and keep fighting, you could end up like them! It’s so rewarding.

I didn’t really know what to expect when I first came in, but just walking in the office the first time, I was like, wow! I think getting a taste of office life for the first time was something that was really cool to me. 

My favorite part of the work is seeing it touch people in their everyday lives. I took the IHDA tour, and I got to see some (IHDA) developments and meet the people who live in them. Then, I came back to my work and I was seeing those developments in the actual data I was entering, and I was like, Oh my God, I’ve been there!

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