Shelter Services Intern (IINE Lowell, MA)

Spring 2026 Shelter Services Intern

The International Institute of New England is a 501(c)(3) non-profit serving refugees and immigrants in Boston, MA, Lowell, MA, and Manchester, NH. The Institute offers internships to students, graduate students, and recent graduates with demonstrated interest or experience in supporting refugee, asylee, and immigrant populations. Each internship includes an educational component, through which interns contextualize their experience and reflect on their service.

All internships are unpaid and correspond roughly with the US semester system:

Spring Internship: January 20th 2026 through May 8th 2026

First consideration is given to applicants that can commit at least 10 hours per week over the course of the semester outlined above. Applicants are encouraged to apply regardless of whether their schedule fits the semester system; IINE makes exceptions on a case-by-case basis. Slots fill quickly and candidates are encouraged to apply earlier than the requested date above.

Please note that this internship will be a hybrid format, meaning that some in-person hours at our Lowell, MA office are required.

Shelter Services Internship Overview

The Shelter Services team provides case management and other services to newly arrived migrants and refugees who have recently moved from a shelter into permanent housing. During this time, IINE staff coordinates with the state of Massachusetts to assist assigned families. Interns assist the Shelter Service’s Case Specialists on-site by checking in with clients, helping clients navigate local transport, support in the application of public services, support families to enroll their children in school, and gain access to medical care. Shelter Services clients also receive case-by-case support for job readiness and placement.

Reports To: Shelter Services Manager

Location: Lowell, MA (hybrid format)

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist staff with case management including:
  • applying for temporary financial assistance and public benefits
  • advocating for health and social services,
  • searching for available housing
  • accompanying clients to the Department of Transitional Assistance, health clinics, Social Security office, etc.
  • helping to coordinate referrals to a wide variety of social services
• Help clients identify and find community amenities (laundromat, grocery story)
• Support clients in learning how to navigate the public transportation systems
• Manage and update client records including case notes and case files
• Provide general administrative assistance to the Shelter Services team

Qualifications:

• Interest in international, refugee, asylee, and/or immigrant issues
• Patience speaking with non-native English speakers/non-English speakers
• Professionalism, discretion, and maturity in dealing with confidential information
• Experience interacting with social welfare agencies highly desirable
• Experience advocating on behalf of others
• Language skills in Haitian Creole, French, Spanish, and/or Portuguese strongly desired
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and can be flexible with their schedule
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Highly organized with great attention to detail
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
• Access to reliable transportation to go to/from shelters within the greater Lowell area

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize common challenges faced by migrant and refugee populations
• Develop strong advocacy and interpersonal skills, particularly for use in a cross-cultural, cross-linguistic environment
• Identify best practices associated with case management and how to effectively conduct client meetings and make community referrals
• Capture important information from meetings and check-ins in concise case notes and via other forms of documentation
• Identify and access community resources and services, particularly those that cater to the needs of refugees and migrants.
• Understand the US Refugee Resettlement program, as well as what part the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and resettlement agencies like the International Institute of New England play in receiving and integrating refugees.
• Respectfully express and engage with ideas and values in a multicultural, multilingual environment.