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Summer 2026 - Research Intern, Opening Doors

Brooklyn, New York

About the team:

Vera’s Opening Doors Initiative is a national initiative to expand access to housing for people with conviction histories. The initiative is pursuing state legislative campaigns for policy change, pursuing federal policy changes, providing technical assistance to housing finance agencies, and developing and lifting up evidence to support these policy changes. 

The Opening Doors Research Intern will provide research and administrative support on state-based portfolios and national work to advance housing access for people with conviction histories. The intern will collaborate with team members to support research needs, technical assistance to State Housing Finance Agencies, and other related activities. The ideal candidate is resourceful, creative, committed to race, equity, and inclusion, and has interest and skills in policy analysis and research. In this role, the Intern will develop professional development skills and begin to work more independently, with support, mentorship, and supervision from more experienced team members.  

The Opening Doors Intern will learn: 

  • How Vera works with external partners, such as state housing finance agencies, to advance Vera’s mission 
  • How to conduct research in the non-profit sector 
  • How to translate research insights into actionable insights for diverse audiences 
  • To build cross-team connections and strong professional network 

About the role:

1. Support data collection and research activities 

  • Support qualitative data collection activities, such as interviews or survey data collection with housing providers, stakeholders or formerly incarcerated individuals 
  • Support management of administrative data  
  • Support preliminary data analysis and drafting findings memos to document learnings for internal and external audiences 

2. Conduct desk research and synthesize the findings 

  • Support desk research needed to understand the landscape in specific states where we are working on 
    projects 
  • Assist in the development of a repository of policies and programs that increase access to housing for people with conviction histories 
  • Support in the creation of memos to document learnings for internal and external audiences 
  • Support ongoing research activities by identifying public data sources and compiling and reviewing state-specific housing policies and programs. 

3. Support technical assistance to Housing Finance Agencies

  • Meet with community partners 
  • Conduct research into state and local housing programs supporting people w/ conviction histories 
  • Support implementation of state work plans 

4. Administrative and other related tasks

  • Administrative tasks such as webinar logistics and correspondence internally and externally.  
  • Participate in other program activities and events during the summer. 

What qualifications are we looking for?

Required: 

  • Current undergraduate or graduate student, or recent graduates, with a demonstrated interest in the criminal legal system; or equivalent experience 
  • Demonstrated ability to work with advocates, government officials, criminal legal system personnel, practitioners, and people who are directly impacted by the criminal legal system. 

Preferred: 

  • Education in public policy, social work, political science, criminal justice, or related field; or equivalent work experience. 
  • Education and/or experience in research methodologies and data management 
  • Lived experience as a person directly impacted by the criminal legal system. 
  • Strong interest in racial justice advocacy. 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities you'll bring: 

  • Strong organizational skills. 

Technical knowledge helpful for this role:

  • Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Word, Excel, and PowerPoint 

Location:

Please note this role will report to our Brooklyn, NY or Washington, DC office. Vera employees adhere to a hybrid schedule and are in-office on an alternating schedule that generally amounts to 10 days per month.

Compensation and Benefits:

The compensation range for this position is $17.00 - $25.00. Actual salaries will vary depending on factors including but not limited to experience and performance. The salary range listed is just one component of Vera Institute’s total compensation package for employees. As an employer of choice in our field, supporting Vera staff - both personally and professionally - is a priority. To do this, we invest in the well-being of our staff through other rewards including merit pay, generous paid time off, a comprehensive health insurance plan, student loan repayment benefits, professional development training opportunities and up to $2,000 annual for education costs and fees relevant to Vera work, employer-funded retirement plan, and flexible time. To learn more about Vera’s benefits offerings, click here. 

Application Process:

To receive further consideration for this career opportunity, applicants are asked preliminary questions about logistics, their interest and qualifications. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional details about their experience via a phone screen/form in advance of an invitation for a virtual or in-person interview with the team. Some searches may explore scenarios during the interview process and/or an assessment prior to reference checks and a hiring decision.

Applications may also be faxed to:

ATTN: People, Place, and Culture / Summer 2026 - Research Intern, Opening Doors
Vera Institute of Justice
34 35th St, Suite 4-2A, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Fax: (212) 941-9407
Please use only one method (online, mail or fax) of submission.
No phone calls, please. Only applicants selected for interviews will be contacted.

Vera is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, prior record of arrest or conviction, citizenship status, current employment status, or caregiver status. 

Vera works to advance justice, particularly racial justice, in an increasingly multicultural country and globally connected world. We value diverse experiences, including with regard to educational background and justice system contact, and depend on a diverse staff to carry out our mission. 

For more information about Vera, please visit www.vera.org.

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