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BACKGROUND:The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. At work in over 40 countries and 24 U.S. cities to restore safety, dignity and hope, the IRC leads the way from harm to home. The IRC in Atlanta office was established in 1979 and has resettled over 27,000 refugees from 67 countries into the Greater Atlanta area. As the largest refugee resettlement agency in Georgia, the IRC in Atlanta resettles an average of 1,000 refugees into Georgia annually and provides additional services and assistance to another 2,500 refugees and asylees.
SCOPE OF HOUSING INTERN WORK: Our Logistics Team helps to support our newly arrived refugees by securing short-term and long-term housing, providing transportation to clients, supporting grocery store pickup, ensuring that a culturally appropriate meal is available to families upon arrival. The team collaborates with community partners to ensure that the homes are furnished upon their arrival. The intern will have the opportunity to play a key role in providing organizational support to the housing team by performing a variety of clerical and administrative duties. This is an unpaid internship position that requires a minimum commitment of 15 hours a week for at least two months.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
- Intern will learn how to build a strong network of community partners while helping to connect our clients to housing services in their new community.
- Intern will learn how to manage a resource database with quick turnaround time, to provide the best service possible to a vulnerable population.
- Intern will develop skills in: problem solving, client services, intercultural social work, and housing logistics navigation.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Build strong relationships with the IRC in Atlanta's existing housing and community partnerships. The Intern will develop an understanding of the services and resources these community partners provide and compile recommendations to the reception & placement housing team.
- Assist with completing agency intake forms.
- Help build and manage the housing resource database.
- Schedule pertinent medical appointments.
- Document client activities and touchpoints.
- Assist in utility setup.
- Log intern hours on volunteer dashboard
- Other duties as assigned
- Educational background in Social Sciences, Global Field, International Relations, Sociology or equivalent experience serving low-to-moderate income immigrant populations (including refugees, asylum seekers, unaccompanied minors etc.) preferred.
- Cultural awareness of and sensitivity to this vulnerable immigrant population, and a strong desire to help refugees and immigrants adjust to life in the U.S.
- Demonstrate ability to communicate and work as a team member in a cross-cultural environment.
- Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail.
- Culturally competent and effective communication skills.
- Engaged in learning about broader IRC mission, philosophy, global work, and local efforts.
- Proficiency in Arabic, Farsi, Dari/Pashto, Amharic, Spanish, Russian or Ukrainian is a plus.
This is an in-person role.
This role will report to the Housing Coordinator.
Commitment to Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion: The IRC is committed to creating a diverse, inclusive, respectful, and safe work environment where all persons are treated fairly, with dignity and respect. The IRC expressly prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or bullying of the IRC persons in any work setting. We aim to increase the representation of women, people that are from country and communities we serve, and people who identify as races and ethnicities that are under-represented in global power structures.