By Brendan McKalip, Our Homes, Our Votes Intern
NLIHC is pleased to welcome Brendan McKalip as Our Homes, Our Votes intern for the summer of 2025. Brendan is currently pursuing dual degrees in Urban and Regional Studies and Planning and Political Science from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, Virginia. His interest in housing policy originated during a high school project on the criminalization of homelessness in his hometown of Washington, D.C. Before joining NLIHC, Brendan supported refugee resettlement efforts as a Housing and Logistics Intern with the International Rescue Committee where he coordinated housing logistics and collaborated with local housing providers and community partners to secure safe, affordable housing placements for refugees.
Before the 2024 election, Brendan joined VCU Votes, where he worked on a nonpartisan voter engagement project with the support of the League of Women Voters to address gaps in student turnout through targeted outreach, testimonials, and social media. For this project, Brendan conducted research to better understand challenges that prevent different student groups from voting. Most recently, Brendan served as an intern in the Virginia General Assembly supporting the staff of Delegate Briana Sewell, where he provided input on housing and urban planning issues. Brendan is excited to be working at NLIHC and is passionate about voting as a powerful tool to build civic power and impact policies that will provide people with affordable, safe, and secure housing options.