I’ve had a blast interning for ShelterCare’s development team these past three months. As a junior at the University of Oregon double majoring in Public Policy Planning and Management and Political Science, I spend most of my time in a classroom. While I’ve been learning about the inner workings of nonprofits, grant writing, and policy analysis, this internship has given me the chance to apply these lessons and make a real impact in my community. I’ve always admired the work nonprofits carry out, but to learn from one that has led in housing first, wraparound service initiatives and compassion is truly a dream come true.
Everything starts with connections, and over the past ten weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to form meaningful relationships through networking events, team meetings, and informational interviews. I’ve had the pleasure of attending the Emerald Valley Development Professionals (EVDP) meetings, where I connected with others in the development field across the greater Eugene area and learned more about development strategies for nonprofit organizations. I also joined multiple Eugene Active 20-30 Club meetings to network with young business professionals from various fields. On top of that, I had the opportunity to conduct informational interviews with the Housing Director at ShelterCare, a commissioner from the Homes For Good Housing Agency Board of Directors, and even staff from the City of Eugene.
Within just a few weeks of starting my internship, I successfully submitted my first grant to support our behavioral health programs. Grant writing is often intimidating; my supervisor, Cat, a grant writer with ten years of experience, made this process manageable and enjoyable by providing guidance and sharing her expertise. I even wrote a second grant for administrative funding, learning how to tailor different narratives for different needs. As I continuously develop my writing skills, this experience will remain a valuable part of my journey.
The development team has also been preparing for the annual Mega Dance fundraising event, this year the theme was Rock The Rainbow! I was able to help with the fine details of song requests, referral tracking and marketing of the event around Eugene. To top it all off, my final hours with ShelterCare was spent volunteering at Mega Dance itself. What a way to go out with a bang!
My favorite aspect of my internship has been learning about the incredible programs at ShelterCare. From permanent supportive housing to short-term shelter programs, each one is making a meaningful impact. I enjoyed touring the ShelterCare Medical Recuperation (SMR) site and learning more about the operational side of things, including exciting new programs like AA meetings and game nights. I also attended monthly SUPER-visor meetings, where I gained a deeper understanding of the successes, challenges, and day-to-day operations of various programs.
ShelterCare’s culture of continuous improvement, compassion, and respect is truly inspiring, and I hope to carry these values with me into my future endeavors. I am so thankful I had the opportunity to intern with ShelterCare and learn from all the amazing staff, especially the development team Cat, Alyssa and Lila. This internship is an experience I will never forget.
About the Author
Emma Singleton is a junior at the University of Oregon studying Public Planning Policy and Management as well as Political Science, with minors in Nonprofit Administration and Legal Studies. Outside of academics, she has spent her time working as a policy analyst and research assistant, contributing to a project that explores the intersections between homelessness, health, and policy. She’s hoping to work within the government on the state or federal level to advocate for expanding affordable and supportive housing resources.