Research and Strategic Analysis Intern chez New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR)

New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) is the State’s affordable housing agency, with a mission to build, preserve, and protect affordable housing and increase homeownership throughout New York State.

NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) is committed to fostering a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. Our work would not be possible without the diverse backgrounds, experiences, ideas, and abilities of our employees. HCR is committed to developing a workforce which represents the diverse population of New York State. HCR embraces a diverse and inclusive work environment by encouraging all individuals, including those with disabilities, to apply to open positions at the agency.

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Office of Research and Strategic Analysis (ORSA) provides crosscutting support to HCR’s executive and program leadership in advancing the agency’s mission to build, preserve, and protect affordable housing, and increase homeownership in New York State. Created in late 2017, the ORSA team consists of data scientists, analysts and policy specialists who, using quantitative and analytical research methods and strategies, provide data-driven guidance on high-priority initiatives and answer questions that are critical to the success of the agency and component programs and offices.

Internship Summary
Reporting to the Senior Public Policy Specialist and/or Principal Economist, working with other ORSA staff and interns, they will lead the effort to develop a survey of county and municipal land use policies in New York State (project description below). The intern will also collaborate in conducting research and data analysis related to ORSA’s long-term studies, covering such topics as housing supply and affordability, land use regulation, and socio-demographic changes in New York.  The internship will culminate in the completion of a deliverable and presentation of findings.

Project Summary - Survey of County and Municipal Land Use Planning in New York State
The goal of this project is to gain a broad understanding of how counties and municipalities across New York State exercise their control over physical development in their jurisdictions through land use planning and other policy, regulatory, and administrative mechanisms and controls. The deliverable(s) may take a variety of forms (e.g. a report, a PowerPoint/presentation, interactive maps and/or infographics, quantitative datasets, etc.) but should, to the greatest extent possible, provide a survey of county and municipal land use policies in New York State. This survey will identify the mechanisms and/or controls used in each county and major municipality, highlighting key similarities, differences, and any potential gaps or contradictions. The deliverable(s) should specifically address how the mechanisms and/or controls identified impact housing development (especially affordable and/or otherwise regulated), particularly as it relates to climate, racial, and economic justice. This work will inform ongoing work to identify ways that the state may play a role in advancing and promoting more uniform land use planning to ensure more inclusive and equitable communities across the state.

Furthermore, the internship entails providing research assistance in projects that focus on strategies to expand the supply of housing, evaluating affordability outcomes, estimating construction costs, and demographic and immigration changes in New York State. Tasks may include compiling data from first-hand and other sources, analyzing and summarizing data (including spatial data and visualization), and surveying the literature. The deliverables may take different forms depending on the project, and include data tables, PowerPoint slides, maps, and word-processed documents.

Beyond the basic research component of this project, and depending on the intern’s skills and interests, they may choose to use a variety of analytic tools and techniques to produce the deliverable(s): quantitative analyses using Excel, R, etc.; geospatial analyses using ArcGIS, AGOL, etc. Prospective interns with an interest and educational background in land use law, urban planning, geospatial analysis, or housing policy are encouraged to apply, as this project will likely involved closely scrutinizing local land use regulations. 

Essential Functions

• Develop a framework for collecting and presenting relevant information and data regarding county and municipal land use policies across New York State.
• Using the internet and other available resources, research county and municipal land use policies in New York State; collect data from various sources; and produce literature surveys on housing-related topics
• Using a variety of analytic tools and methods, provide a summary of similarities, differences, gaps, and contradictions across various local land use policies.
• Using ArcGIS, create digital zoning maps of municipalities across New York State.

Qualifications

• Excellent oral, written, and communication skills
• Exceptional problem-solving abilities
• Ability to quickly and clearly synthesize information
• Ability to use data to make decisions
• Experience with geospatial analysis and tools including ArcGIS and AGOL
• Expertise in the use of Microsoft Office products, specifically Excel and Access
• Demonstrated experience with qualitative and quantitative research designs and statistical analysis techniques a plus
• Experience with a statistical package such as STATA, SAS, or R is a plus
• Ability to work in a flexible, fast paced, mission driven environment
• Interest and/or experience in land use law and/or urban policy/planning preferred

About New York State Homes and Community Renewal: 
Under the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul and Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas, HCR is a vibrant, innovative agency that integrates and leverages New York State’s housing resources. We have offices in New York City, Albany, Buffalo and Syracuse, and employ a diverse workforce of professionals who are hard-working and committed to serving low and moderate income families. Our mission is far reaching, encompassing single and multifamily housing finance, home improvement, rent regulation, housing subsidies, and community development. We partner regularly with a variety of public and private stakeholders. 

Achieving this mission requires a wide range of skills and backgrounds in public policy, administration, real estate, construction. finance, law, and many other areas of expertise. We seek to provide a workplace environment that is productive, flexible, accountable, ethical, and caring. Our employees are empowered to make a difference where they live and work.