This summer, HODC was fortunate to welcome Gavin Rosengarten as a participant in the Emerging Leaders Internship (ELI) Program, offered by the Illinois Housing Council. The 12-week program provides interns with hands-on experience in affordable housing development and preservation, along with supplemental learning opportunities designed to introduce the next generation of professionals to the industry.
Gavin’s time with HODC came at an exciting moment for our Development team, as we celebrated the opening of Poupard Place in Northbrook and prepared Mt. Pisgah Apartments in Evanston to begin construction. He worked closely with the Development team throughout the summer, bringing curiosity and energy to the work and quickly becoming a valued part of the team. We are grateful for Gavin’s contributions and the opportunity to help prepare the next generation of leaders who will continue building places where people can live and thrive.
By Gavin Rosengarten:
This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to intern with HODC. I am currently pursuing my Masters in Urban Planning and Policy at UIC, but before beginning my program, I worked doing constituent outreach for Cook County’s 12th District Office. The role included assisting seniors, people with disabilities, and lower income families access resources available to them through the County and local government.
Issues with the current housing system became clear to me during this time. Rising property taxes meant many seniors could not afford to stay in their homes, especially living only on social security or without a stable income after the passing of a spouse. People with disabilities had difficulty finding accessible places to live. And low income families couldn’t compete with higher earning individuals in a scarce housing market.
For some, I was able to find solutions, lower their tax bill, get them financial assistance, and keep them in their homes for the foreseeable future. But for many others, I struggled to find resources that met their needs.
These experiences led me to apply to graduate school with the hope of one day changing housing policy. Since starting, I have begun learning about the alternatives of affordable housing, and the ways in which the system can better support individuals and communities.
During my 12 weeks with HODC, I’ve worked closely with the development team, learning how projects come together, from the very start of finding a site to the grand opening of a building. I was able to visit a number of our properties, meet with contractors, assist in the funding application process, and learn an endless amount of acronyms.
I also had the chance to work with people in other aspects of affordable housing, including property managers, maintenance staff, and tenants. This opportunity allowed me to take a comprehensive look at all the operations and people that make the system run successfully.
I’m truly grateful for the time I spent with HODC, and am excited for the future of housing in the Chicagoland area.