Housing

Those who leave Durham behind: Housing and displacement in Durham  

By Mary Mungai

May 2, 2024

As the cost of rent and housing rises in Durham, gentrification and displacement becomes all the more common. Local leaders discuss the role supply and demand has in both the cause and the solution of this displacement. Additionally, they investigate the way we measure affordability and how that may change with time.

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McDougald Reisidents Want to Be In the Loop

By Mair Famet

April 23, 2024

The uncertain future of a historic community has left residents exhausted playing guessing games. With a total of 360 units, McDougald Terrace (MAC), Durham’s largest public housing complex, has become a hotspot for numerous issues ranging from health concerns to crime in the latter decade.

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Q&A: Chelsea Cook reflects on housing, law background, Durham City Council

By Lucy Marques

Thursday, March 7, 2024 By Lucy Marques The Durham VOICE’s Lucy Marques spoke with Durham City Council member Chelsea Cook about priorities for the council, career experience, and favorite things about Durham. Cook was appointed to the council in January to fill the seat that opened up after Leonardo Williams was elected mayor, and currently […]

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Gentrification’s Toll on Durham’s Environment

By Carl Kenney

October 16, 2023

Holland Bodner Published October 16, 2023 Durham citizens are facing an affordable housing crisis as companies gentrify Durham neighborhoods. This year, Durham residents saw a 6.3 percent increase in housing prices with newly developed properties. The Durham community is seeing the detrimental effects of gentrification through environmental destruction from rising temperatures, water pollution, and tree loss.  […]

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‘To whom much is given, much is required’ – the mindset of Mayor candidate DeDreana Freeman

By Carl Kenney

October 6, 2023

By: Noel Harris October 6, 2023 As reporters and supporters gather at Durham City Hall, Councilwoman DeDreana Freeman stands about ten feet away with an unforgettable presence. Council member Monique Holsey-Hyman addresses being cleared of extortion allegations before turning her attention to Freeman. She says Freeman supported her during it all. She says Freeman risked […]

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McDougald Terrace residents look to return home — but worry about what they’ll find

By Carl Kenney

February 15, 2020

The continued struggles of families displaced from McDougald Terrace have garnered national attention, but the reality on the ground is beyond what anyone on the outside could possibly imagine. Even folks who come to the community knowing the history of the situation find themselves shocked by what they discover when they arrive. On January 24, […]

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Annual MLK Day Unity March and Rally sheds light and brings hope to Durham

By Carl Kenney

January 30, 2020

Monday morning, Jan. 20, about 250 marchers gathered in front of the NC Mutual Life building for Durham’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Unity March and Rally. The group gathered for a short opening, then marched to First Presbyterian Church on East Main Street where speakers addressed the crowd from the pulpit. Every year, […]

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Exhibit, coalition highlight Durham housing inequality

By Carl Kenney

An exhibit created through a joint effort by First Presbyterian Church and Duke University Chapel entitled “Uneven Ground” opened on Jan. 3 to highlight the history of housing inequality and racial segregation in downtown Durham. Originally commissioned in 2019 for the 150th anniversary of Durham’s founding, the exhibit now serves as a tool for reflection, […]

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MLK Play Days give displaced children a place to be kids again

By Carl Kenney

MLK Play Days, hosted by The W.G. Pearson Center and The Boys & Girls Club of Durham and Orange Counties, gave the displaced children from the McDougald Terrace community a place to play last Monday through Wednesday. Beginning Jan. 3, over 300 families from the McDougald Terrace community were evacuated indefinitely due to dangerous carbon […]

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Urban Ministries changes policy to remove barriers to shelters for Durham residents

By Carl Kenney

April 10, 2019

Urban Ministries of Durham, the largest downtown homeless shelter in the city, connects more than 6,000 people each year to food, shelter and other opportunities. Due to policy changes made in the last year and a half, people seeking shelter will no longer be turned away because they are under the influence of alcohol. Instead, […]

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Amid housing crisis, Housing for New Hope ends homelessness one person at a time

By Carl Kenney

February 13, 2019

According to the 2017 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, about 1,200 homeless people are living in shelters or transitional housing in Durham. Robin, who asked to keep her last name anonymous to protect her children’s identity,  is one of them. Robin, a veteran and National Guardsman, is staying at a shelter in Durham with her three […]

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Habitat for Humanity works to offset gentrification in Durham

By Carl Kenney

January 30, 2019

The Habitat for Humanity building site on the corner of Dowd Street and North Elizabeth Street felt surprisingly quiet for an active construction zone. Not for lack of activity — three volunteers along with the site supervisor were busy building a sizable shed in the backyard of the soon-to-be home of five. But between the […]

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Housing for New Hope removes barriers to housing for the homeless

By Carl Kenney

February 14, 2018

Nigel Brown said he believes it was his destiny that landed him a job where he helps people keep a roof over their heads. At Housing for New Hope, Brown leads the Rapid Re-Housing program which helps families transition from homelessness to a permanent home. This program is one of many services offered by the […]

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Few Gardens’ project child

By Carl Kenney

November 29, 2017

  Growing up as a teen in Few Gardens during the ’70s, you were not getting out of any organized street fights. If Louis, leader of the “Few Crew,” decided to test your loyalty, anything went. Aunts, mothers, cousins and brothers would take the weapons away and circle around the folks duking it out in […]

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Urban Ministries and PictureDURM team up for photo project

By Carl Kenney

November 13, 2017

  In a changing Durham, perspective is key. While recent development throughout the city has allowed many residents to prosper, there are those whose voices have been marginalized in this growing metropolis, fighting to stay on their feet as gentrification and other urban renewal projects take effect. Urban Ministries of Durham and PictureDURM have partnered […]

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Affordable housing front and center at second MayorUp forum

By Carl Kenney

October 5, 2017

  Affordable housing is a hot button issue in Durham. Since major downtown revitalization began nearly 15 years ago, with developments like American Tobacco Campus and Durham Performing Arts Center, cost of living has shifted dramatically throughout the city. This was the topic of discussion at the second #MayorUp mayoral forum, hosted by Aaron Mandel […]

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LIFE Skills: Youth in transition find haven

By Carl Kenney

September 20, 2017

The apartment complex on Martha street just looks like any student housing. It has a hunter-green awning that shelters a bright green door, but still looks like any other apartment complex in the neighborhood. Walk through the doorway, though, and the LIFE Skills Foundation comes alive. According to the 2016 Housing and Urban Development (HUD) […]

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DCLT in NECD: A new friend to the community

By Carl Kenney

In December 2016, Northeast Central Durham had a new friend arrive in the community. It happened quietly, as existing landlords attempted to sell their properties. The Durham Community Land Trustees purchased the properties and started working on emergency repairs and community revitalization. What sets DCLT apart from other new landlords is that, instead of evicting […]

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ACRA helps Durham community members living with HIV and AIDS

By Carl Kenney

April 19, 2017

After 30 years of service in the Durham community, the AIDS Community Residence Association (ACRA) has helped many individuals and their families live with HIV and AIDS. Located in South Durham, ACRA Durham provides education and innovative housing for their residents. ACRA currently has two “scattered site” housing facilities which allows residents to live more […]

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CASA housing development unveiled for eleven veterans experiencing homelessness

By Carl Kenney

December 1, 2014

On the coldest day of 2014 thus far, a few hundred people gathered on the morning of Nov. 18 to celebrate the completion of a new housing development: the Denson Apartments for Veterans. The construction of the apartment building, located at 1598 Sedgefield St., was overseen and managed by CASA, an organization that builds low-cost […]

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DHA hopes to revitalize Southeast Central Durham community

By Carl Kenney

September 17, 2014

  By Jordan Bailey, UNC Staff Writer; and Amber Buford, NCCU Staff Writer The Durham Housing Authority hopes to receive some federal money for much needed renovations to low income housing communities next year. The federal Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) aims to provide neighborhoods across the United States with a portion of the funds needed […]

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Durham plans renovation of McDougald Terrace

By Carl Kenney

April 16, 2014

  By the end of October, residents of McDougald Terrace can expect to see a new community center and  new houses on Goley Street. Twenty new apartments and two stand-alone homes are under construction for the Goley Point Development, said Shannon McLean, development director of the Durham Housing Authority. Fourteen of the apartments are public […]

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Makeover planned for historic home in Northgate Park

By Carl Kenney

April 13, 2014

A historic home in Northgate Park that once housed a children’s museum but has been empty for two years will transform into art next month. Durham artists will memorialize the home at 404 W. Lavender Ave through a Durham Parks and Recreation volunteer project. Occasional flooding has left the city-owned property in decay and poor […]

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Free smoke alarms make Durham homes safer

By Carl Kenney

February 23, 2014

More than 75 homes in Durham received free smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, thanks to the Durham Fire Department’s statewide “Alarm for Life” program. On Feb. 6, firefighters visited Dupree, Concord, Moline Street, and Dunstan Street to install 16 smoke alarms. They also changed and checked alarms, if needed. They helped identify potential fire hazards within a home, as well. “We aren’t typically called before […]

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