By Carter Horner, NLIHC Housing Trust Fund Research Intern
NLIHC is pleased to welcome Carter Horner as a Fall 2026 Housing Trust Fund Research Intern
Carter is a fourth-year bachelor's student double majoring in Leadership and Public Policy and Music at the University of Virginia (UVA). He has a background in Medicaid policy, having worked as a Medicaid research assistant for a UVA professor during FY26. Carter developed an interest in housing-first policy after observing the rise in homelessness in his hometown, Portland, Oregon. Carter continues to explore housing topics at UVA, researching the evolving landscape of Oregon’s housing policy and its historically treatment-first approach to ending homelessness.
Growing up, Carter’s family primarily lived overseas because of his father’s work for the United States Department of State. While living in Dublin, Ireland, Carter worked for the Public Affairs department at the United States Embassy, where he experienced an up-close look at how policy is implemented, furthering his interest in public policy. Since his first year at UVA, he has worked for UVA’s student newspaper, The Cavalier Daily, where he writes articles on local and national arts and entertainment. Carter is involved in several music and debate community organizations and works part-time for UVA’s Career Team.
Carter looks forward to bringing together his personal connection to housing policy and his research experience to help NLIHC’s ongoing mission to understand and improve housing resources and policy. He hopes to gain an in-depth understanding of housing trust funds that he can use to help NLIHC and inform his future policy work.