Mission Housing Relaunches AHORA Internship Program and Welcomes Newest Intern

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – Mission Housing Development Corporation (MHDC) is proud to announce the relaunch of its AHORA “Affordable Housing Opportunities for Rising Achievers” Internship Program—  a paid workforce development initiative designed to open career pathways for community college students in San Francisco.

The relaunch marks a strengthened commitment to cultivating local talent and begins with the introduction of AHORA’s newest intern, 24-year-old San Francisco native Darwin Mendoza, whose story of resilience reflects the program’s purpose and promise.

About the AHORA Program

AHORA is a signature workforce development initiative by Mission Housing that provides community college students with hands-on, professional experience in affordable housing. In partnership with City College of San Francisco, the program offers paid internships that introduce students, many from historically underserved neighborhoods, to potential careers in industries such as housing advocacy, urban planning, non-profit management, real estate development, community engagement, resident services, and property management. AHORA equips interns with direct project experience, one-on-one mentorship, and skills training that prepare them for long-term success in community development, affordable housing, and public service careers.

Why AHORA Matters

San Francisco continues to face an escalating affordable housing crisis, compounded by deep economic inequities. Addressing this challenge requires more than new construction; it requires building the next generation of leaders who understand the city’s communities, cultures, and complexities from lived experience.

For many young people, especially those from working-class families or neighborhoods facing high displacement pressures, professional settings—especially the housing sector—can feel inaccessible. AHORA changes that.

“AHORA opens doors that students often don’t realize are available to them,” said Mission Housing Director of Community Engagement Chirag Bhakta. “By giving students hands-on experience, mentorship, and a real seat at the table, we’re helping them envision meaningful, stable careers while ensuring the future of this field truly represents the communities we serve.”

Interns gain exposure to all facets of the housing ecosystem, including development, operations, resident engagement, and advocacy, while contributing to real projects that impact their neighborhoods.

Introducing Darwin Mendoza: A Story of Resilience and Rising Opportunity

As Mission Housing relaunches the AHORA Internship Program, the organization proudly welcomes Darwin Mendoza as its newest intern.

Mendoza’s journey to AHORA has been marked by resilience. Growing up with limited stability and few opportunities, he navigated challenges that could have halted his progress. After college, Mendoza said he was getting “caught up” in negative habits and cycles - living day to day without any purpose; something that ultimately led him down destructive roads he never dreamt he’d be on.

However, through watching his immigrant parents work tirelessly for him and his siblings their entire life, he knew that the trial experience could not have been in vain.

“I always knew that I was meant for more. My parents didn’t come here and work so hard for me to not do anything with my life and pretend to be someone I am not,” Mendoza said.

After enrolling in college, it was his Latino Experiences in American Culture Professor who encouraged Mendoza to apply for the AHORA internship program.

“When I learned about AHORA, something clicked,” Darwin shared. “After everything I’ve worked through, this program makes me feel like my voice matters. It’s the first time I’ve felt like my story could actually help shape the community I care about.”

Darwin will contribute to Mission Housing’s resident services and community engagement initiatives while exploring career pathways in the nonprofit and housing sectors. His insight and lived experience will strengthen MHDC’s ability to serve residents with understanding and care.

AHORA is not only transformative for interns, it also shapes the leaders who guide them.

“As a manager, mentoring an AHORA intern pushes me to lead with intention,” said Bhakta, Darwin’s supervisor at Mission Housing. “Guiding an intern challenges me to slow down, teach the ‘why’ behind the work, and model the equity-centered leadership we want to see in this field. It makes me a stronger employee and a better leader.”

With its relaunch, Mission Housing aims to deepen the program’s reach, strengthen the curriculum, and build long-term partnerships that support economic mobility for students who are poised to become the city’s next leaders.

“Investing in people is just as important as building housing,” said Bhakta. “AHORA ensures that those who have lived the challenges of housing insecurity are part of shaping the solutions. Darwin is a powerful example of why this work matters.”

For more information on the AHORA internship program, please contact: info@missionhousing.org

About Mission Housing Development Corporation

Founded in 1971, Mission Housing Development Corporation (MHDC) is one of San Francisco’s largest nonprofit affordable housing organizations. MHDC develops and manages high-quality, service-enriched affordable housing that strengthens communities and empowers residents. Learn more at missionhousing.org.