Meet Hailey, Our Affordable Housing Emerging Leader Intern

This summer, LUCHA welcomed Haley Aldrich as part of the Illinois Housing Council Emerging Leaders Internship Program (ELIP), a new initiative designed to prepare the next generation of affordable housing professionals through hands-on experience with housing organizations across Illinois.

A graduate student at the University of Chicago pursuing dual master's degrees in Social Work, Social Policy, Social Administration & Social Sector Leadership and Nonprofit Management, Hailey came to Chicago with a passion for connecting homelessness advocacy and affordable housing.

We recently sat down with Hailey to learn more about what brought her to LUCHA, what she's learned through the internship, and why she's excited about the future of affordable housing in Chicago:

What excited you about LUCHA?

Hailey: I moved to Chicago last August to pursue my master's at the University of Chicago. My background is in homelessness advocacy—I worked directly with people experiencing homelessness, particularly at the intersection of gender-based violence and housing instability, and later moved into legal and policy advocacy.

I think there is room for the homelessness advocacy world and affordable housing developers to connect on a deeper level, learn from one another, and collaborate to expand access to affordable housing in a way that centers the communities they serve.

A fellowship introduced me to the Illinois Housing Council, which led me to the Emerging Leaders Internship Program. I already knew a little about LUCHA through community organizing work, but once I learned more about LUCHA's history—and saw that "Housing is a Human Right" is literally part of its identity—it just felt like the right fit.

Learning about LUCHA's partnership with Association House made it an even stronger fit. Bringing affordable housing together with organizations already providing direct services to residents is incredibly smart, and it's exactly the kind of collaborative model I believe in.

Hailey at the Illinois State Capitol at an advocacy day with the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness

What makes Chicago such an exciting place to do this work?

Hailey: Chicago feels like a place where these conversations are happening in a really meaningful way. There's a shared understanding that affordable housing and homelessness require local, community-driven solutions.

I was especially drawn to the University of Chicago's social work program because it emphasizes work at the individual, community, and policy levels. Community organizing sits right at that intersection, and that's exactly where I want my career to be.

There's still plenty of work to do, but Chicago feels like a city that's willing to ask difficult questions and invest in finding better solutions.

What has your internship looked like so far?

Hailey: It's been a little bit of everything, which I really appreciate.

I've been sitting in on weekly construction meetings and learning the technical side of affordable housing development—everything from funding sources and financial documents to understanding projects in both pre-development and construction phases.

At the same time, a huge part of my work has been documenting LUCHA's institutional history. I've been interviewing residents, former executive directors, current and former board members, and longtime staff to better understand how the organization has evolved over nearly 45 years.

Hailey and Christian (left), one of her LUCHA internship program mentors.

What I find really interesting is that many affordable housing developers focus primarily on development itself, but LUCHA has always balanced that technical expertise with deep community organizing. Seeing how those two priorities have worked together over time has been fascinating.

I've also had the opportunity to connect with Association House staff to think about how services can become even more integrated for LUCHA residents. Every week feels different, and I feel like I'm getting to experience every side of the work.

Have any conversations stood out during your interviews?

Hailey: One thing that keeps coming up is how long people stay connected to LUCHA.

It seems like once people enter LUCHA's orbit, they tend to stay there because the organization approaches its work in such a thoughtful and community-centered way.

It's been really inspiring to see how LUCHA continues to evolve while staying true to its mission.

Where do you see momentum in affordable housing, and where is there still work to do?

Hailey: I'm encouraged by organizations that are thinking beyond the standard 30-year affordability timeline and asking what housing can look like 100 years from now.

Groups like the Here to Stay Community Land Trust are helping push those conversations forward, and I'd love to see more long-term thinking become the norm.

I also think there's still an opportunity for affordable housing organizations and homelessness advocates to work more closely together. Those fields have so much in common, and if they continue aligning around shared goals, they'll become an even stronger force for change.

 Hailey and the rest of the LUCHA team celebrate at a community gathering event for our newest housing project, La Herencia.

What advice would you give to future LUCHA interns?

Hailey: Say yes to as many opportunities as you can. There are so many people at LUCHA and Association House who are incredibly knowledgeable and well connected. Every meeting, every site visit, every conversation is a chance to learn something you didn't expect.

In just 12 weeks, I feel like I'm getting so much more out of this experience than I ever imagined. I'd recommend this internship to anyone interested in affordable housing or community development. ■

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Learn more about LUCHA at lucha.org.