Students come to Harvard Kennedy School to pursue their passions, learn about complex issues, and gain insight into public policy firsthand. Many students in our two-year programs put their classroom learning into action through internships between their first and second years.
This summer, several students explored housing policy—tackling issues like homelessness, displacement, and sustainability—through the Joint Center Fellowship in Housing and Community Development and Ivory Fellowship in Housing Affordability and Sustainability.
Read about their experiences.
- Ellery Rourk MPP 2026 (Boston, MA)
- Kim Davila MPP 2026 (Los Angeles, CA)
- Aditi Dash MPP 2026 (San Francisco, CA)
- Jerwin Tiu MPP 2026 (Hawaiʻi)
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Ellery Rourk MPP 2026 (Boston, MA)
Where did you intern this summer? What projects did you work on?
I was an intern at the City of Boston Planning Department as a Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies Fellow. I worked with their policy team on a project related to the Anti-Displacement Action Plan, building a resource allocation map to spatially map out the financial resources that have been invested across the city to combat displacement. We are still not sure how possible this will be, as there are dozens of programs implemented by various offices and departments. I spent my summer interviewing folks doing this work, seeing what data exists, and compiling it for use by others who are more knowledgeable about Geographic Information System (GIS).
What have you learned since the beginning of the summer?
I have learned so much about housing displacement: its drivers, possible solutions, and the ways to map and track it. This was a subject I did not have any experience in before starting this summer—most of what I now know about housing in cities has been developed through reading this summer.
What has been your favorite part of the experience?
It was truly special to talk to so many people leading departments and programs across the city and to learn about divisions of government directly from those in charge.
How does your summer internship fit into your academic and professional goals?
I never expected to work on housing, but the opportunity came around, and I'm grateful to have jumped in. I was able to meet with folks across the City of Boston's government to learn about how they operate and their anti-displacement efforts. I am not sure whether I will pursue housing policy in the future, but this has further convinced me that I want to work in local government. Thankfully, I will continue this work into the academic year as my Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE), so I can continue to contextualize how the Planning Department uses the data I collected this summer.
Why is housing policy important at this moment in time?
Housing is fundamental to a thriving community. Problems look different around the country, in different states and different cities, but the cost burden of housing is rising almost everywhere. Many Boston residents are at risk of displacement; it is a place people want to live but is increasingly out of reach for many already here. The next few decades could see major shifts in populations and in the structure of our economy, along with dramatic changes to our climate. We may be close to a tipping point with housing, so it has been interesting to learn about the ways cities understand displacement and how they are working to address this risk.
Kim Davila MPP 2026 (Los Angeles, CA)
Where did you intern this summer? What projects did you work on?
This summer, I had the opportunity to return to my hometown of Los Angeles to work on housing policy at the Inner-City Law Center (ICLC) as a Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies Fellow. ICLC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending homelessness and promoting housing stability through legal services and policy advocacy. At ICLC, I worked on a variety of policy advocacy projects, including attending Los Angeles City Council meetings to give public comments on urgent housing issues and coordinating with coalition partners to support stronger tenant protections. One of the most impactful moments of the summer was traveling to Sacramento to advocate for SB 436, a state bill aimed at preventing evictions by giving tenants more time to pay rent or access assistance. As part of this work, I authored a policy memo on rental assistance programs in Los Angeles, which will help inform the organization’s advocacy strategy.
What have you learned since the beginning of the summer?
Through these experiences, I saw how vital community-based organizations are in shaping policy, not just by engaging elected officials, but by centering the voices of tenants and residents with lived experience. I learned how hard it is to move legislation forward, and how essential it is to build coalitions, tell powerful stories, and stay grounded in the community you’re trying to serve.
What has been your favorite part of the experience?
Housing has always been a personal issue for me. I grew up in a low-income, immigrant family where housing insecurity was part of our experience navigating life in Los Angeles. Having the opportunity to work on an issue as important as housing in a city I care so deeply about was meaningful. It gave me the chance to contribute to solutions that directly impact communities like the one that raised me. Prior to HKS, I worked at the California Strategic Growth Council, a state agency focused on innovative programs and policies to build climate resilience in California’s most vulnerable communities. While that experience gave me a big-picture view of policymaking, coming back home to focus on local politics in Los Angeles showed me just how powerful, and personal, city-level work is.
How does your summer internship fit into your academic and professional goals?
Interning at ICLC allowed me to connect my studies at Harvard to real-world challenges, especially around housing justice. Last spring, I took the course, Housing Law and Policy, at Harvard Law School, which helped me identify potential solutions and strategies for the housing crisis. My internship also sparked new ideas for my Policy Analysis Exercise, including topics and clients in Los Angeles County that reflect my commitment to local impact. This summer reaffirmed my dedication to building a more just and fairer Los Angeles through public service.
Why is housing policy important at this moment in time?
Housing policy is more urgent than ever. In Los Angeles and across the United States, we’re seeing a deepening crisis that puts many individuals and families at risk. Other issues like gentrification, climate disasters, and systemic inequality are making it more difficult for people, especially low-income people of color, to live with dignity and safety. Bold and people-centered solutions are needed because without stable housing, other policy issues like education, health, and jobs will be harder to achieve.
Where did you intern this summer? What projects did you work on?
I interned in the Office of Mayor Daniel Lurie in San Francisco, California on the Infrastructure, Climate, and Mobility team through the Ivory Fellowship in Housing Affordability and Sustainability. Some of the key projects that I worked on include:
Supporting efforts to improve grid efficiency by working with stakeholders across the City and County of San Francisco, as well as Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E). The goal was to ensure that the grid can support new affordable housing and clean infrastructure projects. I conducted research and data analysis to identify bottlenecks and monitor project timelines. Based on these insights, I collaborated with the city working group to coordinate efforts between PG&E and city agencies.
Contributing to brainstorming and shaping ideas for the city's forthcoming climate innovation strategy. This initiative aims to accelerate San Francisco’s transition to net zero emissions by 2040 and revitalize the local economy by attracting climate tech companies to the region.
What have you learned since the beginning of the summer?
I previously worked exclusively in India, so this was my first experience within a city government in the United States. One aspect I truly admire about San Francisco’s city government is its commitment to public engagement. The regular town halls and public comment processes reflect a strong culture of civic participation. I’ve also come to appreciate the power of policy narratives—how issues are framed can shape not only political will but also public understanding.
This summer gave me insight into how cities navigate difficult trade-offs. Given the budget deficit, I witnessed firsthand how policymakers had to make tough decisions. I learned the importance of analyzing redundancies in workstreams, especially in the context of grant programs, to make public spending more effective. While the city government received public opposition to the budget because of funding cuts for certain nonprofits, as someone who could look closely into the system, I understood why these decisions had to be made.
I also had the opportunity to apply geospatial data to support complex decision-making, which helped me connect my data skills with real-world governance challenges.
What was your favorite part of the experience?
Working with the collaborative team in San Francisco. I appreciated that my coordination extended beyond the Mayor’s Office, and that I had the opportunity to work closely with members across the City and County of San Francisco (CCSF). This broader engagement helped me understand how different departments and stakeholders come together to address complex urban challenges. I was also a part of the administration’s first six months, so much of my work focused on planning to help shape the city's operations over the next three and a half years.
How does your summer internship fit into your academic and professional goals?
My long-term goal is to establish an organization that strengthens public health systems globally. While my academic work has focused on the implications of public health policy, this internship has shown me how interconnected various sectors are—from housing and climate to infrastructure and transportation.
Policy solutions require an interdisciplinary lens, and this experience has expanded my understanding of how city governments approach these intersecting issues. It has deepened my appreciation for how urban systems work and how local government plays a critical role in advancing equity, resilience, and wellbeing.
Why is housing policy important at this moment in time?
Housing policy is critical today because of rising housing costs, increasing unaffordability, and growing inequality. Safe and affordable housing forms the foundation of equity and opportunity, and its impact extends across multiple policy areas. It influences health outcomes through building standards and air quality, affects climate goals through sustainable construction and energy use, supports economic vitality by enabling affordability and workforce retention, and shapes transportation outcomes by determining access to jobs, services, and commercial areas. In San Francisco, the housing crisis is especially acute. Addressing these challenges is essential not only to ensure people have a place to live, but also to advance the city's long-term sustainability social equity.
Jerwin Tiu MPP 2026 (Hawaiʻi)
Where did you intern this summer? What projects did you work on?
It has been an immense privilege and a source of deep gratitude to serve as an Ivory Fellow with the Statewide Office on Homelessness and Housing Solutions in the Office of Hawaiʻi’s Governor Josh Green. I am especially thankful to the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University and all of the staff in the governor's office for supporting this opportunity. This summer, I’ve been focused on capital planning for the state’s homelessness intervention efforts, designing a longitudinal study to evaluate the long-term impact of transitional housing programs, and developing a strategic framework through cost-benefit analyses and needs-based assessments to guide the expansion of the state’s Kauhale initiative, Hawaiʻi’s innovative model of communal transitional housing.
What have you learned since the beginning of the summer?
I’ve gained a deeper understanding of the complex and interwoven challenges that local and Native Hawaiʻians face when it comes to homelessness and housing insecurity. While in Las Vegas, with one of the largest communities of people priced out of Hawaiʻi, I previously worked on an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) oral history project where I interviewed individuals who had been displaced from Hawaiʻi and relocated to southern Nevada. That experience gave me insight into the downstream impacts of displacement.
Now, working directly on Native Hawaiʻian land, I’ve been able to investigate the root causes of these issues and help develop strategies to prevent further displacement. At the same time, I’ve been able to learn about the innovative, community-driven solutions to homelessness that are continuing to unfold in real time. Hawai’i is home to the largest AANHPI communities in the country. As someone who is part of the AANHPI community and has personally navigated housing instability, this experience has been inspiring. Being able to contribute to efforts that support communities with which I deeply resonate has been one of the most meaningful aspects of my journey.
What was your favorite part of the experience?
I have loved connecting directly with the folks most impacted by homelessness interventions. Beyond the politics, bureaucratic hurdles, and high-level strategy work, it has been heartwarming to speak with individuals who have experienced upward mobility as a result of these efforts. Whether participating in local community service projects or having one-on-one conversations with residents of transitional housing communities, I’ve been most inspired by hearing personal stories about what’s working, what still needs to be improved, and how these programs are creating real hope and possibility for people on the ground. Some of these residents go on to support the same programs that served them, and seeing the circular nature of the community has been a gift to witness.
How does your summer internship fit into your academic and professional goals?
I plan to help mobilize capital toward the communities that need it most. In a country where federal policies often disproportionately harm those with the least, the most, I’m deeply committed to uplifting people experiencing poverty and expanding pathways to social mobility.
My time at HKS has significantly shaped my experience working in Hawai’i and helped orient me for my career post-HKS. From fellowships to learning opportunities, I have explored my passion in looking at ways to support strategies on a state and local government level. When federal action falls short, it becomes more critical for state and local governments to step in and lead. I have also explored tribal sovereignty at HKS, which has become particularly helpful in understanding the nuanced differences of the challenges impacting the Native Hawai’ian population, and how they have historically been severely marginalized and pushed out of their Native land.
This summer internship has allowed me to be part of a unique opportunity by participating in statewide planning that directly supports underserved communities. It has also provided a window into the complexities of capital planning and strategy development in a resource-constrained environment. Long-term, I hope to continue working on ways to use data and research to help shape investment decisions that are both equitable and impactful.
Why is housing policy important at this moment in time?
Housing policy, and particularly homelessness policy, is critically important right now as housing prices continue to rise at unsustainable rates, leaving many families unsheltered in harsh and unsafe conditions. These experiences have lasting impacts on individuals and families, and they disproportionately harm historically underserved communities.
In today’s political climate, the needs of our most vulnerable communities are more overlooked that ever, while predatory systems profit from inequity. It has driven me to assert that housing is a basic human right, not a privilege reserved for the wealthy. At this moment, that right is under threat, and it is our collective responsibility to defend and advance it.
