Suggestions for volunteer activities related to RE?
What are some activities or specific programs that could help me learn about RE from a new perspective (homelessness and distressed property, I assume) while also allowing me to use even a smidgen of my RE background to help others? California-specific programs would be great but open to all suggestions - maybe I can find the equivalent of your state’s program if it’s only local. Thank you!
[{"id": "i3qo2sb", "text": "You may also be able to help out with Affordable Housing developers or partner not-for-profits to learn about the LIHTC side of development.  Whole sub-specialty of CRE but a lot of help needed.  State agencies administer the federal LIHTC allocations so you could start there, looks like it would be CTCAC.", "replies": [{"id": "i3s4xq9", "text": "Thank you very much, that sounds pretty involved and gives me a good place to start", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "i3r47dr", "text": "VA SAH is pretty rewarding but not CRE.", "replies": [{"id": "i3s5671", "text": "Thank you, I\u2019ll check it out", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "i3ue296", "text": "What is your experience ?\n\nA few things ive done (I'm a broker with significant pm experience for perspective on why I did these things)\n\n-a friend mentors some youth with issues mostly related to poverty.  I met with them and answered their questions on obtaining housing and subsidized housing programs.  \n\n-i got paid but prob did it way below cost, but one of the more rewarding projects I worked on was stabilizing run down public housing owned by a local charity.  It was hard but I felt like the tenants really appreciated someone gave a shit and was trying.  The charity meant well and wanted to help provide housing but just didnt have the re knowledge to succeed in that.\n\n-im on gov boards dealing with re.  Worth doing imo.  Its good professionally and you do get a say in things. You will find your local gov frequently doesnt really understand cre like we do.\n\n-i have been working with some non profits for years to build affordable housing with them as partners.  No luck there yet, lots of obstacles.\n\n-ive given lots of free consultation to non profits who need space etc.  They frequently are looking for spaces the fees dont exist on and can use all the help they can get.  \n\nTbh id pick a cause you really care about.  Tbh it gets tiring and you will find a lot of gridlock or lack of solutions on a lot of things.", "replies": [{"id": "i3v2krh", "text": "For all intents and purposes I have no substantial knowledge about RE. I\u2019m starting an entry-level analyst position soon. \n\nI\u2019d like to do some kind of volunteering in housing because maybe I\u2019ll discover new avenues to take my career in CRE. I think it\u2019ll also be another way to learn about CRE, but from an affordable housing standpoint. And as I progress in my career, hopefully I can gain some useful knowledge that isn\u2019t easily accessible to the non-profit sector (as you\u2019ve done).\n\nThat being said, a lot of your volunteering experience is out of my reach for now. Do you have any suggestions for where someone with little RE knowledge can start? I\u2019d like to work directly with people struggling with poverty, especially with the initial step of getting people off the streets. Grassroots/ field type of work.\n\nThanks for sharing your experience - gives me a good idea of what I could do in the future.", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}]